Consequences of maternal omega‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation on respiratory function in rat pups

摘要

Key points class="unordered" style="list-style-type:disc" id="tjp12107-list-0001">Incomplete development of the neural circuits that control breathing contributes to respiratory disorders in pre‐term infants. Manifestations include respiratory instability, prolonged apnoeas and poor ventilatory responses to stimuli.Based on evidence suggesting that omega‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n‐3 PUFA) improves brain development, we determined whether n‐3 PUFA supplementation (via the maternal diet) improves respiratory function in 10–11‐day‐old rat pups. n‐3 PUFA treatment prolonged apnoea duration but augmented the relative pulmonary surface area and the ventilatory response to hypoxia. During hypoxia, the drop in body temperature measured in treated pups was 1 °C less than in controls. n‐3 PUFA treatment also reduced microglia cell density in the brainstem.Although heterogeneous, the results obtained in rat pups constitute a proof of concept that n‐3 PUFA supplementation can have positive effects on neonatal respiration. This includes a more sustained hypoxic ventilatory response and a decreased respiratory inhibition during laryngeal chemoreflex.