Chronic fetal hypoxia disrupts the peri-conceptual environment in next-generation adult female rats

Exposure to chronic hypoxia during gestation influences long-term health and development, including reproductive capacity, across generations. If the peri-conceptual environment, in the developing oviduct, is affected by gestational hypoxia, then this could have implications for later fertility and the health of future generations. In this study, we show that the oviducts of female rats who were exposed to chronic hypoxia whilst in utero, have reduced telomere length, decreased mitochondrial DNA biogenesis, and increased oxidative stress Our results show that exposure to chronic gestational hypoxia leads to accelerated ageing of the oviduct in early adulthood, and help us understand how exposure to hypoxia during development could influence reproductive health across generations.