Behavioral teratogenicity induced by nonforced maternal nicotine consumption.
Prenatal nicotine exposure (PNE) has been associated with increased prevalence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), major depressive disorder (MDD) and substance abuse in exposed children and adolescents. Whether these syndromes are caused by nicotine exposure, or genetic and psychosocial adversities associated with maternal smoking is not completely clear. Animal models suggest a direct impact of PNE. However, the fact that nicotine is forcefully administrated in these paradigms raises some questions about the specificity of these findings. Pregnant C57BI/6J mice were allowed to choose drinking saccharin/nicotine solutions or pure water. Controls could choose saccharin solutions or pure water. Offspring were tested in spontaneous locomotion, fear-associated learning (trace conditioning), addictive (conditioned place preference), and depression-like (learned helplessness) behaviors. There was no significant difference in weight or pup number between the prenatal treatment groups. A significant effect of PNE was observed on spontaneous locomotion, preference for a cocaine-associated place, and latency to escape in the learned helplessness paradigm. Surprisingly, PNE mice exhibited an increased learning of trace-conditioned fear-associated cues. The hyperlocomotive behavior reported in animal models of PNE is not likely an artifact of forceful nicotine administration. The increased prevalence of ADHD, MDD and substance abuse observed in PNE children and adolescents is probably caused by direct behavioral teratogenic effects of PNE. The role of PNE as a risk factor of syndromes associated to increased learning of fear-associated cues such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) warrants further evaluation.
Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001, USA.
Rodrigo
R
Paz
Brigg
B
Barsness
Trevor
T
Martenson
Daniel
D
Tanner
Andrea M
AM
Allan
D000818:Animals; D001245:Association Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D019958:Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D003042:Cocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004597:Electroshock / Q000009:adverse effects; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D009538:Nicotine / Q000633:toxicity*; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists / Q000633:toxicity*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D012737:Sex Factors
D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists; D009538:Nicotine; D003042:Cocaine