Smoking Moms Harm Daughters’ Fertility
November 22, 2007
(Ivanhoe Newswire) – Moms-to-be who light up may be reducing their chances of becoming grandmothers someday.
A new study conducted in mice finds toxins in cigarette smoke reduce the number of eggs produced in female offspring. Fewer eggs means less chance of becoming pregnant.
The research was carried out at the University of Toronto and involved female mice who were injected with a component of cigarette smoke called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). PAHs are known to be toxic.
While the mice delivered normal-sized litters, further study showed the female offspring had significantly fewer follicles – clusters of cells that contain one egg each. The researchers continued to examine the clusters and found PAHs were affecting a protein that leads to cell death.
The results have implications for humans because the investigators found PAHs had the same effect on human ovarian tissue that was transplanted into mice whose immune systems were compromised.
SOURCE: Journal of Clinical Investigation, published online Nov. 21, 2007
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