Effects of exposure do air pollution on placental structure

Objective To evaluate the effects of exposure to air pollution during the pre‐gestational or gestational period. Methods Female Wistar rats (7–9/group) were exposed to filtrated (F) or polluted (P) air in a concentrator of atmospheric particles for 3 weeks. At 12 weeks, after mating, rats were divided in 4 groups exposed to F or P (FF, FP, PF, PP). At 19 th day of pregnancy: fetal placenta (Pl), decidua (Dc) and fetus (F) mass; Pl and Dc longitudinal (LD), transversal (TD) diameters and thickness (T); Pl, Dc and serum ACE activity; serum Aldosterone were measured. Results (mean±SEM – p<0.05):FF FP PF PPMass (g)Pl+Dc 0.63±0.010 0.61±0.009 0.57±0.014 1 0.55±0.007 1Pl 0.42±0.006 0.44±0.006 0.40±0.005 2 0.43±0.004Dc 0.13±0.005 0.14±0.008 0.12±0.005 1 0.12±0.007 1Diameters ratio (LD/TD)Pl 1.08±0.02 1.24±0.04 3 1.11±0.02 1.17±0.02Dc 1.07±0.02 1.16±0.03 1.10±0.03 1.25±0.04 3T (mm)Pl 4.42±0.10 4.16±0.06 3.93±0.09 4 4.40±0.11Dc 3.15±0.10 2.77±0.09 5 2.92±0.09 2.95±0.11ACE (nmol His‐leu/min/mL)Pl 1.05±0.07 0.99±0.11 1.12±0.10 1.35±0.24Dc 0.83±0.07 0.67±0.06 0.59±0.05 5 0.53±0.05 5Serum 33.50±1.39 28.89±1.37 5 28.90±1.67 5 26.53±1.06 51 vs FF, FP;2 vs FF, FP, PP;3 vs FF, PF;4 vs FF, PP;5 vs FF.Serum Aldosterone was similar among all experimental groups. Conclusions Exposure to air pollution affects placental structure indicating a possible prejudice of fetal nutrition. Supported by FAPESP and CNPq.