The effect of prenatal nicotine on expression of nicotine receptor subunits in the fetal brain

Previous studies have suggested that prenatal exposure to nicotine is associated with abnormal development in fetuses, including fetal brain damage. The present study determined the effect of maternal administration of nicotine during different gestational periods on brain nicotine receptor subunits in fetal rats. Subcutaneous injections of nicotine in maternal rats from the early and middle gestation decreased fetal blood PO2, increased fetal blood PCO2 and hemoglobin, and decreased fetal brain weight. The nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChRs) mRNA abundance in the fetal brain was significantly changed by prenatal treatment with nicotine during pregnancy. Fetal α2, α4, α7, and β2 units were significantly increased in the brain by prenatal exposure to nicotine in rat fetuses. However, the expression of mRNA of fetal brain α3, α5, β3, and β4 units were not changed. The results showed that prenatal nicotine can change the development of both α and β subunits of nAChRs in the fetal brain at gene level in association with restriction of fetal brain growth and in utero hypoxia.