Multigenerational effects of maternal cigarette smoke exposure during pregnancy on sperm counts of F1 and F2 male offspring

Abstract

Animal models and human studies showed that in utero cigarette smoke exposure decreases sperm counts of offspring. This study used a mouse model to investigate the effects of maternal exposure to cigarette smoke on reproductive systems in F1 and F2 male offspring. Female ICR mice were exposed either to clean air or to cigarette smoke during pregnancy at the post-implantation stage. Epididymal sperm counts were decreased in a cigarette smoke dose–dependent manner in F1 (by 40–60%) and F2 males (by 23–40%) at postnatal day 56. In F1, the seminiferous epithelium heights were lower in the cigarette smoke–exposed groups than in the control group, and these effects were sustained in F2 males. Results suggest that maternal cigarette smoke exposure during pregnancy can have a multigenerational adverse effect on sperm counts in male offspring, which is mediated through in utero exposure of fetal germ cells to cigarette smoke.