Growth Impairment of the Fetal Nervous System by Nicotinic Stimulation

Growth Impairment of the Fetal Nervous System by Nicotinic Stimulation The resources on this particular topic were minute. In fact, only two articles were obtained Therefore due to the lack of compiling information, all of the following text should be attributed to the sources listed The maternal utilization of tobacco substances during pregnancy gives rise to growth retardation and an array of neurobehavior defects in the offspring. Although concurrent exposure of the fetus to hypoxia and ischemia are major contributors to the developmental effects of smoking in man, or of injected nicotine in animals, recent studies using slow infusions of nicotine strongly suggest that nicotine affects fetal and neonatal development. Due to the action of nicotine via neurotransmitter receptors in the nervous system) the sensitivity of the developing brain is displayed in the disruption of cellular development and blunting of neural activity in central and peripheral catecholaminergic systems (Navarro et al, p894). Many of the developmental abnormalities seen with prenatal nicotine exposure resemble those obtained through enhancement of cholinergic neuronal activity through dietary manipulations. Endogenous cholinergic input has been shown to control cellular development in cerebral cortex, the same region found to be highly sensitive to perturbations caused by nicotine or by high dietary choline. Thus, the effects of nicotine may represent the simulation of a natural developmental signal, but at an inappropriate time. A current study examines the potential interaction of prenatal nicotine exposure with the development of cholinergic neurotransmitter systems in different brain regions (Navarro et al’ p894). The experimentation o... ...aring" course of action, wherein damage to a developing fetus by malnutrition, drugs and toxic chemicals has less of an growth impairment on the nervous system than the rest of the fetus (Navarro et. al., p191) Works Cited: Navarro, H.A., Seidler, F.J., Schwartz, R-D., Maker, E.E., Dobbins, S-S, and Slotkin, T.A. Prenatal Exposure to Nicotine Impairs Nervous System Development at a Dose Which Does Not Affect Viability or Growth. Brain Research Bulletin, Vol. 23, pp. 137-192, 1989. Navarro, H-A., Seidler, F.J., Eylersk, J-P., Baker, F.E., Dobbins, S.S., Lappi, S.E., and Slotkin, T.A. Effects of Prenatal Nicotine Exposure on Development of Central and Peripheral Cholinergic Neurotransmitter Systems. Evidence for Cholinergic Trophic Influences in Developing Brain. The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Vol. 251. No.3, pp. 894-399, 1989.