The effect of nicotine on weight and hippocampus development in Wistar rat's embryo

Aim and Intrauterine exposure to maternal tobacco smoking is associated with increased morbidity and mortality of the human infant. Nicotine interacts with endogenous receptors in the brain and lung, and developmental exposure produces structural changes as well as alterations in neuroregulation. The present study evaluated the possible role of nicotine on the developing rat fetus that include developing brain and fetus weight. Wistar rats (250-300 g) were used in this study. After pregnancy, the animals were divided into control and nicotine (0.3 mg/kg) in tap water groups. On 19th embryonic day, the rats were killed and their embryos were surgically removed, washed, and their weight was measured and fixed in formalin 10%. Then tissue processing, cutting and Hematoxylin-Eosin (H&E) staining were preformed. The samples were evaluated using light microscope and MOTIC software for changes in hippocampus area. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 9.01. The weight of embryos decreased in the nicotine group. In addition, embryonic hippocampus layer the treatment group was change compared with the control group. It seems that nicotine induced its influence on embryo development via different pathways and has a toxic effect on the brain.