Neurological repercussions of neonatal nicotine exposure: A review

Abstract

Smoking during pregnancy is hazardous to both the mother and the foetus, according to a substantial amount of recorded data. Exposure to nicotine and other compounds in cigarette smoke increases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) by two to five times during pregnancy. Serotonergic abnormalities have been discovered in SIDS infants in the zone of the medulla oblongata, which is known to control cardio‐respiratory function. SIDS establishes a connection between depression, learning difficulties and behavioural disorders. Prenatal nicotine intake during the second trimester affects the dopaminergic neurological system, making the foetal brain more susceptible to nicotine and developing ADHD symptoms not just in a foetus but in adolescents also. Prenatal nicotine exposure alters the neurological route of neurotransmitters, acetylcholine and dopamine. Nicotine enhances neuronal activity in adults but desensitizes these processes in babies and young children exposed prenatally. The impact of a neurotoxin like nicotine is determined by the amount and duration of exposure. Continued exposure throughout pregnancy will influence a wide range of activities in the neurodevelopment, whereas exposure confined to a single stage of pregnancy may only affect the processes that are forming at that stage. To decrease the effect of nicotine on neonates due to maternal smoking strategies like nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), folic acid treatment and other behavioural treatments have been studied. Hence, this review focuses on the impact of exposure to nicotine on neonates, which results in various neurological consequences and smoking cessation therapies.

Embryonic Nicotine Exposure Disrupts Adult Social Behavior and Craniofacial Development in Zebrafish

“…Smoking during pregnancy is linked increased risk of adverse birth outcomes, including low birth weight, prematurity, neonatal mortality, and abnormal childhood behavior [ 5 ]. Among the most common craniofacial defects associated with smoking during pregnancy is non-syndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate, with an odds ratio of 1.22 [ 6 ] and 1.5 for passive smoking [ 7 ].…”

Nicotine exposure through breastfeeding affects brain‐derived neurotrophic factor and synaptic proteins levels in the brain of stressed adult female mice

“…In this area, postnatal nicotine exposure induced a different response in BDNF and synaptic proteins levels in adult mice subjected to unpredictable chronic stress. In fact, both exposure to nicotine or tobacco smoke during a critical period of development modifies brain molecular responses even after a long exposure‐free period (Dwyer et al, 2009, 2019; Torres, Balestrin, et al, 2019; Torres, Garcia, et al, 2015, 2019; Xavier et al, 2022). We also observed decreased PSD‐95 and synapsin levels in the brainstem and decreased BDNF levels in the striatum of mice exposed to nicotine through breastfeeding or to the UCMS protocol in adulthood, indicating that the brainstem and striatum are susceptible to postnatal nicotine exposure and to unpredictable chronic stress in adulthood.…”

The neuroprotective effect of ascorbic acid against imidacloprid-induced neurotoxicity and the role of HO-1 in mice

“…To lessen the odor impact, the maze was washed with 70% ethanol and allowed to dry between animals, and the mice have been transferred to respective cages until the second trial (retrieval trial) that was carried out on day 28 of the research (24 h after the last dose of IMI). Entry into an arm was recorded only if the animal's hind paws were totally inserted into the arm ( 34 , 35 ). A video camera was used to record all the activities to explain the results, which were then manually examined.…”