# Prenatal Cigarette Smoke Exposure: Impact on Offspring Gut Bacterial Microbiome

> **NIH NIH R15** · UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE · 2022 · $469,458

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
An estimated 17% of women in Kentucky smoke during pregnancy. The studies proposed within this renewal
application use a well-developed murine model of developmental exposure to tobacco smoke. We have shown
effects of prenatal cigarette smoke exposure (CSE) on birth weight, catch-up growth, and gut bacterial
microbiome in mouse dams and their offspring, as well as effects on offspring phenotype (preliminary data).
However, we do not know if the observed changed in microbiome and offspring phenotype are linked. We will
measure the effect of cecal transfer of microbiomes or dietary resistant starch on those same measures in this
model.
Our central hypothesis, that CSE-induced gut microbiome alterations are linked to offspring phenotype, will be
tested within 2 aims:
Aim 1: use cecal transfer in weanlings to separate effects of CSE-induced microbiome from CSE itself
Aim 2: use dietary resistant starch to increase short-chain fatty acids before vs after puberty
If our central hypothesis is supported, future studies will delve into gut-liver-brain axis consequences of intestinal
dysbiosis, as well as investigate potential interventions.
Drs. Corbitt (PI), Neal (co-I), and Kosiewicz (co-I) jointly will train students and conduct the proposed studies.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10439341
- **Project number:** 2R15ES028440-02A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE
- **Principal Investigator:** CYNTHIA CORBITT
- **Activity code:** R15 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $469,458
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2017-08-01 → 2026-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10439341

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10439341, Prenatal Cigarette Smoke Exposure: Impact on Offspring Gut Bacterial Microbiome (2R15ES028440-02A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10439341. Licensed CC0.

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