The number of oogonia and somatic cells in the human female embryo and fetus in relation to whether or not exposed to maternal cigarette smoking

TY - JOUR

T1 - The number of oogonia and somatic cells in the human female embryo and fetus in relation to whether or not exposed to maternal cigarette smoking

AU - Lutterodt, M C

AU - Sørensen, K P

AU - Larsen, K B

AU - Skouby, S O

AU - Andersen, C Yding

AU - Byskov, A G

N1 - Keywords: Adolescent; Adult; Cell Proliferation; Embryo, Mammalian; Embryonic Development; Female; Fetus; Humans; Maternal Exposure; Oogonia; Ovarian Follicle; Ovary; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Trimester, First; Smoking Times Cited: 0ArticleEnglishLutterodt, M. CRigshosp, Copenhagen Univ Hosp, Sect 5712, Reprod Biol Lab,Juliane Marie Ctr Women Children, Blegdamsvej 9, DK-2100 Copenhagen, DenmarkCited References Count: 43496EPOXFORD UNIV PRESSGREAT CLARENDON ST, OXFORD OX2 6DP, ENGLANDOXFORD

PY - 2009

Y1 - 2009

N2 - BACKGROUND: Prenatal exposure to maternal cigarette smoking or compounds of cigarette smoke is associated with serious reproductive hazards such as apoptotic death of oogonia in murine offspring and decreased fecundability in human offspring. The present study addresses potential effects of in utero exposure to cigarette smoking. METHODS: Twenty-nine human first-trimester ovaries from legal abortions [aged 38-64 days post-conception (p.c.)] were collected. Mothers filled out a questionnaire about their smoking habits and delivered a urine sample for cotinine analysis. The ovarian cell numbers were estimated using stereological methods. RESULTS: A non-linear correlation between the numbers of oogonia and somatic cells in relation to age of the embryo/fetus was shown in 28 ovaries, including the first estimates performed in ovaries younger than 47 days p.c. Prenatal exposure to smoke showed a significant decrease in the number of somatic cells (P < or = 0.01). The number of oogonia was not significantly associated with prenatal exposure to maternal smoking (P < or = 0.09). The ratio between the two cell types decreased considerably from 1:45 to 1:23 from 38 to 46 days p.c. and was not affected by smoking. CONCLUSIONS: Oogonia proliferate and/or invade the developing ovary at a much faster relative rate than somatic cells. In utero exposure to maternal smoking significantly reduces the number of somatic cells from Days 38 to 64 p.c. Since oocytes cannot survive without being enclosed by somatic cells in a follicle, reduction in the somatic cells number may have long-range consequences on the number of oocytes available in adult life and on the future fertility of female offspring exposed to smoking in utero.

AB - BACKGROUND: Prenatal exposure to maternal cigarette smoking or compounds of cigarette smoke is associated with serious reproductive hazards such as apoptotic death of oogonia in murine offspring and decreased fecundability in human offspring. The present study addresses potential effects of in utero exposure to cigarette smoking. METHODS: Twenty-nine human first-trimester ovaries from legal abortions [aged 38-64 days post-conception (p.c.)] were collected. Mothers filled out a questionnaire about their smoking habits and delivered a urine sample for cotinine analysis. The ovarian cell numbers were estimated using stereological methods. RESULTS: A non-linear correlation between the numbers of oogonia and somatic cells in relation to age of the embryo/fetus was shown in 28 ovaries, including the first estimates performed in ovaries younger than 47 days p.c. Prenatal exposure to smoke showed a significant decrease in the number of somatic cells (P < or = 0.01). The number of oogonia was not significantly associated with prenatal exposure to maternal smoking (P < or = 0.09). The ratio between the two cell types decreased considerably from 1:45 to 1:23 from 38 to 46 days p.c. and was not affected by smoking. CONCLUSIONS: Oogonia proliferate and/or invade the developing ovary at a much faster relative rate than somatic cells. In utero exposure to maternal smoking significantly reduces the number of somatic cells from Days 38 to 64 p.c. Since oocytes cannot survive without being enclosed by somatic cells in a follicle, reduction in the somatic cells number may have long-range consequences on the number of oocytes available in adult life and on the future fertility of female offspring exposed to smoking in utero.

U2 - 10.1093/humrep/dep226

DO - 10.1093/humrep/dep226

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 19553240

SN - 0268-1161

VL - 24

SP - 2558

EP - 2566

JO - Human Reproduction

JF - Human Reproduction

IS - 10

ER -