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Aortic intima-media thickness in nicotine-exposed rat pups during gestation and lactation period
Tamer Gunes1, Mustafa Ali Akin, Ozlem Canoz
1Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey.
Insights
Maternal nicotine exposure during pregnancy and lactation reduces birth weight and increases aortic intima-media thickness (aIMT) in rat pups. This detrimental effect on fetal growth and cardiovascular health is dose-dependent.
Area of Science:
- Developmental toxicology
- Cardiovascular pathology
- Perinatal medicine
Background:
- Maternal smoking during pregnancy is linked to low birth weight.
- Nicotine's adverse effects extend from fetal life through early childhood.
- Previous research identified increased aortic intima-media thickness (aIMT) in neonates with intrauterine growth restriction and infants of smoking mothers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To histopathologically evaluate the impact of nicotine exposure during pregnancy and lactation on fetal growth and aIMT in rat pups.
- To determine the dose-dependent effects of nicotine on these parameters.
Main Methods:
- Gravid rats were divided into three groups: Nicotine A (6 mg/kg/day), Nicotine B (3 mg/kg/day), and Control (saline).
- Nicotine or saline was administered intraperitoneally during pregnancy (gestation days 1-21) and lactation (until postnatal day 21).
- Abdominal aIMT was assessed histopathologically at postnatal 45 days.
Main Results:
- Nicotine exposure led to decreased birth weight and reduced pregnancy weight gain in the dams.
- Rat pups exposed to nicotine (both doses) exhibited significantly higher mean aIMT values compared to the control group (Nicotine A: 103.78 ± 21.33 μm; Nicotine B: 99.11 ± 30.12 μm; Control: 62.56 ± 7.18 μm).
Conclusions:
- The detrimental impact of nicotine exposure on birth weight is dose-dependent.
- Nicotine exposure during intrauterine life and the lactation period results in increased aIMT in rat pups, indicating a preatherosclerotic change.
Abstract:
There have been several studies confirming an association between maternal smoking during pregnancy and low birth weight. The detrimental effect of nicotine exposure beginning in fetal life continues during lactation, in infancy and in the early childhood period. In our previous studies, we found increased aortic intima-media thickness (aIMT) as a preatherosclerotic lesion in neonates with intrauterine growth restriction and in infants of smoking mothers. We aimed to evaluate histopathologically the effect of nicotine exposure during pregnancy and lactation period on fetal growth and aIMT at postnatal 45 days of age (end of the mid-adolescent period) in rat pups living in the same conditions. Gravid rats were assigned into three groups. In nicotine A, pregnant rats received 6 mg/kg/day nicotine intraperitoneally during pregnancy from 1 to 21 days of gestation and lactation (until postnatal day 21). Nicotine B received 3 mg/kg/day nicotine for the same period. Control pregnant rats received only saline intraperitoneally. Abdominal aIMT was studied histopathologically at postnatal 45 days of age. Nicotine exposure resulted in decreased birth weight and pregnancy weight gain. The mean aIMT values of the rat pups exposed to nicotine in both nicotine A and B groups were higher than those of the control group (103.78 ± 21.33 μm, 99.11 ± 30.12 μm, and 62.56 ± 7.18 μm, respectively). In conclusion, the detrimental effect on birth weight of nicotine exposure that began in fetal life is dose dependent. Nicotine exposure during intrauterine life and the lactation period causes increased aIMT in rat pups.
