Neurohistochemical studies of adolescent rats' prefrontal cortex exposed to prenatal nicotine

Background: Exposure to tobacco has frequently been associated with adverse implications on many body organs and systems. Maternal smoking can influence fetal development, causing intrauterine growth restriction, preterm birth, or even fetal death and spontaneous abortion. Objectives: We investigated the effects of prenatal exposure to nicotine on the prefrontal cortex in adolescent rats. Materials and Methods: Twenty-four mature female Wistar rats were time mated and grouped according to Trimester into Control and Treated groups. Nicotine was administered intra-peritoneally to pregnant Wistar rats in the treated groups, while normal saline was given to the control groups, at each of the three Trimesters. The animals were allowed to litter and the pups were allowed to grow till postnatal day 35, when they were sacrificed and the brain removed and weighed. The prefrontal cortex was excised and either fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde for tissue histology or homogenized in sucrose solution for enzyme studies (alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase). Results: Enzyme studies showed derangement in biochemical status of the prefrontal cortex of all the nicotine-exposed animals compared with their respective controls, and corresponding morphological and histological alterations, especially in animals exposed to nicotine during their 2nd and 3rd weeks of fetal life. Conclusions: The morphohistological and biochemical derangements that occur during neurodevelopment of nicotine-exposed offspring persist into adolescent life, and could underlie the neurological dysfunctions associated with such individuals.

Key-words:

Adolescents - Prenatal nicotine exposure - Prefrontal cortex - Enzymes - Histology

Publication History

Received: 04 August 2013

Accepted: 26 September 2013

Article published online:
07 July 2022