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Cholinergic receptors in heart and brainstem of rats exposed to nicotine during development: implications for hypoxia tolerance and perinatal mortality.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Slotkin, TA; Epps, TA; Stenger, ML; Sawyer, KJ; Seidler, FJ
Published in: Brain Res Dev Brain Res
March 12, 1999

Cigarette smoking during pregnancy increases the incidence of perinatal mortality and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). We have evaluated prenatal or postnatal nicotine exposure in developing rats to examine the potential role of altered neurotransmitter receptor expression in these processes. Pregnant rats received continuous infusions of nicotine throughout gestation, at doses mimicking the plasma levels found in smokers. After birth, cardiac M2-muscarinic cholinergic receptors, which are responsible for inhibitory autonomic actions, were enhanced in the nicotine group, coincidentally with decreases in stimulatory beta-adrenergic receptors that have been demonstrated previously. Studies of adenylyl cyclase activity confirmed that the changes in receptor binding represented functional alterations: the stimulatory response to isoproterenol was obtunded by prenatal nicotine exposure, whereas the inhibitory response to carbachol was enhanced. Elevations of M2-muscarinic receptor binding were not generalized to all tissues, as the same prenatal nicotine treatment elicited a reduction in these receptors in the brainstem, an effect that has also been noted in infants who died of SIDS; we found no effects of prenatal nicotine on brainstem M1-receptor binding. Postnatal administration of nicotine produced similar brainstem receptor effects when treatment was conducted during the first postnatal week but not thereafter; postnatal nicotine treatment did not affect cardiac M2-receptor binding. Thus, during a critical developmental period, nicotine exposure produces cardiac and brainstem receptor imbalances that favor inhibitory responses, effects that can contribute to morbidity and mortality evoked by hypoxic episodes, such as those experienced during parturition, sleep apnea or airway obstruction.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Brain Res Dev Brain Res

DOI

ISSN

0165-3806

Publication Date

March 12, 1999

Volume

113

Issue

1-2

Start / End Page

1 / 12

Location

Netherlands

Related Subject Headings

  • Tritium
  • Receptors, Nicotinic
  • Receptors, Muscarinic
  • Receptors, Adrenergic, beta
  • Receptor, Muscarinic M2
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Rats
  • Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects
  • Pregnancy
  • Nicotinic Agonists
 

Citation

APA
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ICMJE
MLA
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Slotkin, T. A., Epps, T. A., Stenger, M. L., Sawyer, K. J., & Seidler, F. J. (1999). Cholinergic receptors in heart and brainstem of rats exposed to nicotine during development: implications for hypoxia tolerance and perinatal mortality. Brain Res Dev Brain Res, 113(1–2), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0165-3806(98)00173-4
Slotkin, T. A., T. A. Epps, M. L. Stenger, K. J. Sawyer, and F. J. Seidler. “Cholinergic receptors in heart and brainstem of rats exposed to nicotine during development: implications for hypoxia tolerance and perinatal mortality.Brain Res Dev Brain Res 113, no. 1–2 (March 12, 1999): 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0165-3806(98)00173-4.
Slotkin TA, Epps TA, Stenger ML, Sawyer KJ, Seidler FJ. Cholinergic receptors in heart and brainstem of rats exposed to nicotine during development: implications for hypoxia tolerance and perinatal mortality. Brain Res Dev Brain Res. 1999 Mar 12;113(1–2):1–12.
Slotkin, T. A., et al. “Cholinergic receptors in heart and brainstem of rats exposed to nicotine during development: implications for hypoxia tolerance and perinatal mortality.Brain Res Dev Brain Res, vol. 113, no. 1–2, Mar. 1999, pp. 1–12. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/s0165-3806(98)00173-4.
Slotkin TA, Epps TA, Stenger ML, Sawyer KJ, Seidler FJ. Cholinergic receptors in heart and brainstem of rats exposed to nicotine during development: implications for hypoxia tolerance and perinatal mortality. Brain Res Dev Brain Res. 1999 Mar 12;113(1–2):1–12.
Journal cover image

Published In

Brain Res Dev Brain Res

DOI

ISSN

0165-3806

Publication Date

March 12, 1999

Volume

113

Issue

1-2

Start / End Page

1 / 12

Location

Netherlands

Related Subject Headings

  • Tritium
  • Receptors, Nicotinic
  • Receptors, Muscarinic
  • Receptors, Adrenergic, beta
  • Receptor, Muscarinic M2
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Rats
  • Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects
  • Pregnancy
  • Nicotinic Agonists