Nicotine Exposure During Pregnancy Results in Persistent Midline Epithelial Seam With Improper Palatal Fusion.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Nonsyndromic cleft palate is a common birth defect (1:700) with a complex etiology involving both genetic and environmental risk factors. Nicotine, a major teratogen present in tobacco products, was shown to cause alterations and delays in the developing fetus.

Methods

To demonstrate the postpartum effects of nicotine on palatal development, we delivered three different doses of nicotine (1.5, 3.0, and 4.5mg/kg/d) and sterile saline (control) into pregnant BALB/c mice throughout their entire pregnancy using subcutaneous micro-osmotic pump. Dams were allowed to deliver (~day 21 of pregnancy) and neonatal assessments (weight, length, nicotine levels) were conducted, and palatal tissues were harvested for morphological and molecular analyses, as well as transcripti

SUBMITTER: Ozturk F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4900233 | biostudies-literature | 2016 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature