Perinatal nicotine exposure increases vulnerability of hypoxic-ischemic brain injury in neonatal rats: role of angiotensin II receptors.

ABSTRACT:

Background and purpose

Maternal cigarette smoking increases the risk of neonatal morbidity. We tested the hypothesis that perinatal nicotine exposure causes heightened brain vulnerability to hypoxic-ischemic (HI) injury in neonatal rats through aberrant expression patterns of angiotensin II type 1 (AT(1)R) and type 2 (AT(2)R) receptors in the developing brain.

Methods

Nicotine was administered to pregnant rats through subcutaneous osmotic minipumps. HI brain injury was determined in 10-day-old pups. AT(1)R and AT(2)R expression patterns were assessed through Western blotting, quantitative polymerase chain reaction, immunofluorescence, and confocal imaging.

Results

Perinatal nicotine exposure significantly increased HI brain infarct size in male, but not female, pups.

SUBMITTER: Li Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3429721 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature