biostudies-literatureJoglekar RNCRRNIMHNCATS NIH HHSNIEHS NIH HHSNIMH NIH HHSNIEHSNational Institutes of HealthUSEPA41-54https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC8917982biostudies-literatureUnknown89Nicotine is a neuroteratogenic component of tobacco smoke, e-cigarettes, and other products and can exert sex-specific effects in the developing brain, likely mediated through sex hormones. Estradiol modulates expression of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in rats, and plays critical roles in neurodevelopmental processes, including sexual differentiation of the brain. Here, we examined the effects of developmental nicotine exposure on the sexual differentiation of the preoptic area (POA), a brain region that normally displays robust structural sexual dimorphisms and controls adult mating behavior in rodents. Using a rat model of gestational exposure, developing pups were exposed to nicotine (2 mg/kg/day) via maternal osmotic minipump (subcutaneously, sc) throughout the critical window forNeurotoxicologyDevelopmental nicotine exposure and masculinization of the rat preoptic area.PMC8917982UL1TR001117P01ES022831UL1 TR001117T32 ES021432RD-83543701P01 ES022831R01 MH052716RO1MH52716Patisaul HBMurphy SKCauley MJoglekar RLevin EDLipsich TMeyer JNMcCarthy MMCorcoran DLfalseDevelopmental nicotine exposure and masculinization of the rat preoptic area.Nicotine is a neuroteratogenic component of tobacco smoke, e-cigarettes, and other products and can exert sex-specific effects in the developing brain, likely mediated through sex hormones. Estradiol modulates expression of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in rats, and plays critical roles in neurodevelopmental processes, including sexual differentiation of the brain. Here, we examined the effects of developmental nicotine exposure on the sexual differentiation of the preoptic area (POA), a brain region that normally displays robust structural sexual dimorphisms and controls adult mating behavior in rodents. Using a rat model of gestational exposure, developing pups were exposed to nicotine (2 mg/kg/day) via maternal osmotic minipump (subcutaneously, sc) throughout the critical window for2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 Mar2025-04-19T07:38:00.864Z2025-04-19T07:38:00.864ZS-EPMC89179823502637310.1016/j.neuro.2022.01.005