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. 2018 Mar;15(3):2404-2410.
doi: 10.3892/etm.2018.5687. Epub 2018 Jan 3.

Influence of exposure to nicotine during pregnancy on the learning and memory for adult offspring

Xing-Dui Ma  1   2 , Bei-Ping Li  1 , Yuan Han  3 , Yun-Ping Tian  1 , Liang Wu  1 , Hang Wang  4
Affiliations

Influence of exposure to nicotine during pregnancy on the learning and memory for adult offspring

Xing-Dui Ma et al. Exp Ther Med. 2018 Mar.

Abstract

We aimed to investigate the indirect influence of exposure to nicotine during pregnancy on the learning and memory of adult offspring mice. Thirty pregnant C57 mice were randomly divided into either the control group (CON) or the nicotine group (NIC), with 15 mice each. The CON group was given access to drug-free water, and the NIC group was given 60 g/ml nicotine in drinking water. Sixteen adult mice were randomly selected from the 8 litters for Morris water maze test. The level of products of related factors in the hippocampus of mice in the NIC and the CON groups were compared using the 1H-MRS method. The escape latency time that the adult offspring mice in the NIC group took in the place navigation test was significantly longer than that of the CON group. In addition, the NIC group took longer time to arrive at the plate than the CON group (P<0.05). mRNA and protein levels of NR1 in the hippocampus of the NIC group was significantly higher than that in the CON group (P<0.05).α7nACh mRNA in the hippocampus of the NIC group was not significantly different from that of the CON group (P>0.05), while the expression levels of α7nACh protein in the hippocampus of the NIC group was significantly lower than that in the CON group (P<0.05). Detection of protein level of muscarinic receptors in the hippocampus of adult offspring mice in the NIC group showed that when compared to the CON group, the expression levels of M1, M3, M5 of the NIC group was not significantly different from that of the CON group (P>0.05). Therefore, exposure to nicotine during pregnancy can cause damage to the learning ability of adult offspring mice but do not significantly influence their working memory.

Keywords: 1H-MRS; Morris water maze; learning and memory; nicotine.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
The pool roadmap of the NIC group and the CON group on the 1st, 4th and 7th day. (A) The swimming path of the NIC group on the 1st, 4th and 7th day; (B) the swimming path of the CON group on the 1st, 4th and 7th day. NIC, nicotine; CON, control.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Comparison of total latency time of male mice exposed to nicotine during pregnancy. C-M, male control group; N-M, male nicotine group.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Comparison of total latency time of female mice exposed to nicotine. C-F, female control group; N-F, female nicotine group.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
The comparison of the spatial probe test between the NIC group and the CON group. P<0.05, differences were of statistical significance. C, CON group; N, NIC group.
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
Comparison of counterpoint spatial probe test between the NIC group and the CON group. P<0.05, differences were of statistical significance. C, CON group; N, NIC group.
Figure 6.
Figure 6.
Comparison of the expression level of mRNA of NR1 between the NIC group and the CON group. P>0.05, differences were of no statistical significance. C, CON group; N, NIC group.
Figure 7.
Figure 7.
Comparison of the expression levels of protein of NR1 between the NIC group and the CON group. P>0.05, differences were of no statistical significance. C, CON group; N, NIC group.
Figure 8.
Figure 8.
Comparison of the expression level of mRNA of α7nACh between the NIC group and the CON group. P>0.05, differences were of no statistical significance. C, CON group; N, NIC group.
Figure 9.
Figure 9.
Comparison of the expression level of protein of α7nACh between the NIC group and the CON group. P>0.05, differences were of no statistical significance. C, CON group; N, NIC group.
Figure 10.
Figure 10.
Comparison of the expression level of protein of muscarinic receptor between the NIC group and the CON group. P>0.05, differences were not statistically significant. C, CON group; N, NIC group.
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