Chronic nicotine exposure during pregnancy has been shown to induce physiological and anatomical alterations in offspring. Previously, we investigated the complexity of dopamine (DA) neuron firing in the sub-regions of the ventral tegmental area (VTA) following perinatal nicotine exposure. Using approximate entropy, we found that within the middle sub-region, the parainterfascicular nucleus (PIF), there was higher complexity indicating more random neural firing and a less homogeneous neuron population. Therefore, we sought to investigate the neuron populations within the sub-regions of the VTA following perinatal nicotine exposure. We used real time PCR in order to find the relative quantity of glutamate to γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), DA, and glutamate neurons within three sub-regions: the parabrachial pigmented nucleus (PBP), parainterfascicular nucleus (PIF), and paranigral nucleus (PN). Our results showed that the PIF region of the VTA contained a more diverse population of neurons resulting in a more complex system. In addition, we found that DA neurons are more activated in PN sub-region of the VTA, which mediates the rewarding effects of drugs including nicotine. Lastly, using immunohistochemistry, we observed an overall decrease in DA neurons following perinatal nicotine exposure.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-59248-0 | DOI Listing |
Children (Basel)
November 2024
Department of Radiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
Pregnant women have limited information on the impact of prenatal cannabis exposure (PCE) alone. Our aim was to determine if PCE, without alcohol, tobacco, or illicit drug use, is associated with altered birth outcome measures in obstetrically low-risk women. In this observational cohort study, pregnant women were recruited between 2019 and 2022 from communities in Washington and Oregon, USA, and enrolled following their first trimester.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Environ Res Public Health
December 2024
Department of Molecular Pathobiology, New York University College of Dentistry, New York, NY 10010, USA.
The objective of this study is to investigate the potential mutagenic effects of the exposure of mice to aerosols produced from the component liquids of an electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS). The use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) and ENDSs has increased tremendously over the past two decades. From what we know to date, ENDSs contain much lower levels of known carcinogens than tobacco smoke.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSci Total Environ
January 2025
Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Gdańsk University of Technology (GUT), ul. G. Narutowicza 11/12, 80-233 Gdańsk, Poland; EcoTech Center, Gdańsk University of Technology (GUT), ul. G. Narutowicza 11/12, 80-233 Gdańsk, Poland.
A robust analytical method was developed for the determination of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in e-cigarette refill liquids using solid-phase extraction (SPE) with weak anion-exchange sorbent, followed by detection with high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). The design of experiment approach was employed to optimize sample preparation, leading to the validation of the method with limits of detection for PFAS ranging from 0.24 to 1.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFront Pharmacol
December 2024
Addiction Research Group, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.
Introduction: Prenatal nicotine exposure (PNE) from maternal smoking disrupts regulatory processes vital to fetal development. These changes result in long-term behavioral impairments, including mood and anxiety disorders, that manifest later in life. However, the relationship underlying PNE, and the underpinnings of mood and anxiety molecular and transcriptomic phenotypes remains elusive.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFront Neural Circuits
January 2025
Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Japan.
Introduction: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by deficits in social interaction and communication, along with restricted and repetitive behaviors. Both genetic and environmental factors contribute to ASD, with prenatal exposure to valproic acid (VPA) and nicotine being linked to increased risk. Impaired adult hippocampal neurogenesis, particularly in the ventral region, is thought to play a role in the social deficits observed in ASD.
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