Artificially induced torpor during pregnancy impairs fetal growth in mice.

ABSTRACT: Fetal development in endothermic mammals relies on a tightly regulated maternal body temperature. In animal models, deviations from normothermia during gestation cause fetal developmental abnormalities. However, the direct and physiological manipulation of the maternal core temperature has been technologically challenging, as traditional methods involve the imposition of external thermal stress. Recent advances in the identification of thermoregulatory neurons in the mouse preoptic area have allowed precise control of maternal body temperature without altering environmental conditions. Here we show that the activation of excitatory neurons in the medial preoptic area (MPO) induces a torpor-like hypothermic state in pregnant mice. When induced during early gestation, this state resulted in

SUBMITTER: Hagihara M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12550096 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature