Maternal Vitamin D Deficiency Causes Sustained Impairment of Lung Structure and Function and Increases Susceptibility to Hyperoxia-induced Lung Injury in Infant Rats

Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) during pregnancy is associated with increased respiratory morbidities and risk for chronic lung disease after preterm birth. However, the direct effects of maternal VDD on perinatal lung structure and function and whether maternal VDD increases the susceptibility of lung injury due to hyperoxia are uncertain. In the present study, we sought to determine whether maternal VDD is sufficient to impair lung structure and...