Effect of Fish Oil on Hypoxia-Induced Apparent Congenital Abnormalities and Fetal Body Dimensions during Gestation in Rat

Hypoxia is one of the most common clinical stresses that occur during pregnancy, which has adverse effects on fetal development. Fish oil, with its antioxidant properties, prevents fetal disorders during pregnancy. This study was conducted to determine the effects of fish oil on apparent congenital abnormalities and fetal dimensions caused by hypoxia during gestation in rats.

In this experimental study, 36 female pregnant Wistar rats were divided into 6 groups of control, hypoxia, fish oil 0.5 ml, fish oil 1 ml, hypoxia+fish oil 0.5 ml, and hypoxia + fish oil 1 ml. Fish oil was administered by gavage, and the hypoxia model was established between 6 and 15 days of gestation by 3 hours of daily exposure to 10% oxygen and 90% nitrogen. On the 20th day of pregnancy, the embryos were removed from the uterus. First, the number of obtained embryos from each group was counted. Then, in terms of apparent abnormalities, the number of live fetuses and fetal resorption was evaluated. Finally, the length and weight of the fetuses were measured.

The frequency of embryos with apparent abnormalities in the hypoxia and control groups was 18.18% and nil, respectively. The frequency of fetal resorptions in the hypoxia and control groups was 27.27% and 1.92%, respectively. Moreover, fetal weight and length were significantly reduced in the hypoxia group compared with the control group (P<0.05). However, the average weight and length of fetuses in the hypoxia groups receiving fish oil showed a significant increase compared to the hypoxia group (P<0.05).

Hypoxia during pregnancy in rats reduces fetal body dimensions and increases fetal abnormalities. However, fish oil can reduce the harmful effects of hypoxia on apparent congenital abnormalities and fetal body dimensions during pregnancy.