Received February 09, 2022
Accepted September 24, 2022

Objective: During pregnancy, maternal exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) has been linked to altered offspring immune and health status. This study was therefore designed to investigate some markers of immune response in the offspring of pregnant Wistar rats exposed to UVR at various points of gestation. Methods: Thirty pregnant rats were divided into 6 groups (n=5) as follows; group I, control, consisting of pregnant rats unexposed to UVR. Animals in groups II,III,IV,V and VI were exposed 1-hour daily, to UVR on gestational days 1-7,8-14,15-21,1-14 and 1-21, respectively. Animals were allowed to come to term and offspring birth-weight was taken. On postnatal day-10, weight of each offspring was taken again. Thereafter, blood samples were collected from each offspring per group and evaluated for total protein, albumin, globulin, C-reactive protein, interleukin-1β and complement component protein-3 (C3). Offspring hepatic samples were evaluated using standard histological techniques. Results: Offspring birthweight increased (p<0.05) while weight gain on postnatal day 10, reduced in all experimental groups compared to control. No significant differences were observed for offspring total protein, albumin and C3 levels across all groups. Globulin increased (p<0.05) only in group VI, while C-reactive protein increased (p<0.05) in all experimental groups, except group III, compared to control. Interleukin-1β in groups II,III,V and VI increased significantly compared to control. Offspring hepatic samples exhibited hepatocellular degeneration and necrosis that was independent of gestational stage of maternal exposure to UVR. Conclusion: Maternal exposure to ultraviolet radiation during gestation in Wistar rats activates offspring immune and inflammatory responses.