Exogenous NADPH could mitigate pyroptosis-induced brain injury in fetal mice exposed to gestational intermittent hypoxia

Objective Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) during pregnancy is characterized by intermittent hypoxia (IH) during sleep and will lead to the rise of oxidative stress in the fetal body. Pyroptosis, a type of inflammatory and programmable cell death mediated by Gasdermin D (GSDMD), plays a substantial role in oxygen deprivation’s contribution to neural system damage. Existing research shows that Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Phosphate (NADPH) plays a protective role in alleviating brain tissue pyroptosis. We speculate that exogenous NADPH may play a protective role in OSA during pregnancy. Methods A model of GIH group was established to simulate the pathophysiological mechanisms of OSA during pregnant and AIR group was established by giving the same frequency. Sham group was established by injecting NS and the NADPH group was established and given exogenous NADPH. We utilized the Morris Water Maze to assess cognitive function impairment, Luxol Fast Blue (LBF) staining to confirm myelin sheath formation, TUNEL staining to examine cell death in fetal mice brain tissue, and Western blotting to detect pertinent protein expressions. Results The GIH group offspring exhibited decreases in spatial learning and memory abilities, reduced numbers of oligodendrocytes and formed myelin, as well as increased expression of pyroptosis-related proteins. The NADPH group offspring showed restoration in spatial learning and memory abilities increased counts of oligodendrocytes and formed myelin sheaths, in addition to decreased expression of pyroptosis-related. Conclusions This study demonstrates that early injection of exogenous NADPH can alleviate the damage to fetal brain development caused by gestational intermittent hypoxia (GIH).