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Maternal exercise is associated with enhanced systolic reserve and altered mitochondrial respiration in adult female offspring

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Maternal voluntary exercise before and during pregnancy was associated with altered load-independent systolic reserve and substrate-dependent mitochondrial respiratory adaptations in adult offspring, with the clearest and most interpretable phenotype observed in females. Female offspring from exercise dams showed greater dobutamine-induced recruitment of end-systolic elastance together with changes in mitochondrial respiratory control. These findings suggest that maternal exercise may produce persistent functional and metabolic adaptations in the adult offspring heart.

Source: American Journal of Physiology-Heart and Circulatory Physiology

DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00277.2026

Authors: Yun-Ju Fang, Kassandra Gonzalez, Filip Konecny, Adam J. Chicco, Eunhee Chung

Institutions: The University of Texas at San Antonio, Moffitt Cancer Center, McMaster University, Colorado State University

Language: English

Topic: Birth, Development, and Health

Subfield: Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Funder: National Institute of General Medical Sciences