Postnatal effects of nicotine on incisor development of albino mouse

Young albino mice, 4-days-old, exposed to 0.1% nicotine sulfate on gestational days 6-20 were compared with untreated pups to determine nicotine's effects on the animals. Pregnant mice were given intraperitoneal injections of nicotine at a dose of 1.67 mg/kg/day. Data of pups weight, CRL, distance between the anterior and posterior limbs, maximum head height and width as well as head circumference were collected. The neonates were then decapitated, their entire mandibles were excised, routinely prepared, sectioned and stained with H and E for histologic examination of the developing incisors. All the parameters were significantly reduced in the treated group. Histologically, the processes of odontogenesis appeared retarded in nicotine treated animals, whereas the control group demonstrated normal dentin and enamel formation. Thus nicotine has a detrimental effect on the development of newborn offspring in general and incisor development in particular. This effect begins prenatally and extends postnatally.