Background: Waterpipe tobacco smoke (WTS) is a popular form of tobacco consumption. Prenatal exposure to cigarette smoke altered kidney function and oxidative stress balance in offspring. However, the effect of prenatal WTS exposure on kidney function parameters, blood pressure and oxidative stress in adult offspring rats were unknown. Methods: Pregnant Wister rats were exposed to either WTS for 2 hours per day utilizing a whole body exposure system or fresh air from day 0 of gestation to day 21. Systolic blood pressure, histological analysis of kidney, kidney function biomarkers [angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), angiotensin I, angiotensin II, urea nitrogen, creatinine and albumin], and oxidative stress biomarkers (glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS)) were measured in male- and female- offspring rats on week 20. Results: Prenatal exposure to WTS significantly decreased kidneys' weight and glomeruli area (p < 0.05) in offspring rats. Prenatal WTS exposure increased blood pressure in offspring rats (p < 0.05). Further, prenatal WTS exposure increased the level of urine albumin (p < 0.05) in offspring rats. Prenatal WTS exposure increased the level of ACE and angiotensin I (p < 0.05) in female offspring rats. Prenatal WTS exposure increased the level of TBARS (p < 0.05) in female offspring rats and there was a trend of decreased activity of GPx in male and female offspring rats, but was not significant (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Maternal WTS exposure during pregnancy resulted in detrimental effects on the renal system as indicated by altered kidney parameters and function, increased systolic blood pressure and oxidative stress in adult offspring rats.
Keywords: Waterpipe smoking; blood pressure; oxidative stress; renal function; renin angiotensin system.