Aging begins before birth
According to the results obtained by an international team of researchers led by Professor Dino Giussani from the University of Cambridge, the aging process begins before birth. Moreover, the data obtained in experiments on rats indicate that providing the expectant mother with antioxidants during pregnancy slows down the aging of her children in adulthood. At the same time, cubs who received insufficient oxygen during pregnancy age faster in adulthood.
The most common complication of pregnancy is insufficient oxygen supply to the developing fetus, which can be caused by a number of reasons, including smoking during pregnancy or preeclampsia (late toxicosis). To simulate this condition, the researchers placed a group of pregnant laboratory rats in a room with air, the oxygen content in which was lowered by 7% compared to the normal value.
Subsequent observations showed that the cubs born to females who were in conditions of oxygen deficiency during pregnancy had shorter telomeres compared to the cubs born as a result of uncomplicated pregnancies. (Telomeres are protective end sections of chromosomes shortened with each cell division, the length of which is considered to be a marker of the biological age of the organism.)
In addition, they subsequently revealed violations of the functioning of the inner lining of blood vessels, indicating premature aging and predisposition to early development of cardiovascular diseases. However, the introduction of allopurinol (an antioxidant belonging to the class of free radical formation blockers) into the diet of pregnant rats of the experimental group reduced the risk of heart disease in their young.
In addition, baby rats that received sufficient oxygen during intrauterine development were born with longer telomeres compared to cubs whose mothers did not receive antioxidants during pregnancy.
The data obtained on rats indicate that the aging clock starts ticking even before we are born. They once again demonstrate the great importance of observing the principles of a healthy lifestyle during pregnancy.
Article by B. J. Allison et al. Divergence of mechanical pathways mediating cardiovascular aging and developmental programming of cardiovascular disease is published in The FASEB Journal.
Evgeniya Ryabtseva
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru based on the materials of the University of Cambridge: Old before your time: Study suggests that aging begins in the womb.
04.03.2015