title: Influence of maternal nicotine exposure on neonatal rat bone: protective effect of pentoxifylline.
abstract: Limited research in young adults and immature animals suggests a detrimental effect of tobacco on bone during growth. The aim of this study was to determine the adverse effects of maternal nicotine exposure during pregnancy and lactation on neonatal rat bone development, and to determine a protective effect of pentoxifylline (PTX). Gravid rats were assigned into four groups, one control (group I) and three experimental (groups II, III, and IV). In group II, pregnant rats received 3 mg/kg/day nicotine alone, subcutaneously, until 21 days postnatal. In group III, pregnant rats received nicotine (3 mg/kg/day) and PTX (60 mg/kg/day). In group IV, pregnant rats received PTX alone (60 mg/kg/day). Whole body mineral density (BMD), content (BMC), area (BA), and histopathologic and morphologic findings of the femur were determined at 21 days of age. The study revealed that nicotine exposure (group II) decreased birth weight, pregnancy weight gain, and length of femur compared with other groups (P < 0.01). Birth weight was higher in groups III (PTX + nicotine) and IV (PTX) than in group II (nicotine). Body weight at 21 days of age was higher (P = 0.009) in the PTX alone group (group IV) compared with the other groups. BMD was higher (P < 0.001) in the PTX-treated groups (group III and IV) compared with other groups. In addition, there were more apoptotic chondrocytes in the hypertrophic zone of rats exposed to nicotine alone (group II) compared with the other groups (P < 0.001). In conclusion, maternal nicotine exposure resulted in decreased birth weight, pregnancy weight gain, and bone lengthening, and increased apoptosis. Pentoxifylline supplementation was found to prevent the adverse effects of maternal nicotine exposure on BMD and birth weight.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Endocrinology & Metabolism, Erciyes University, School of Medicine, 38039 Kayseri, Turkey. selimk@erciyes.edu.tr
authors.forename: Selim
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kurtoglu
authors.forename: Tamer
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gunes
authors.forename: Esad
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Koklu
authors.forename: Osman
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bastug
authors.forename: Ozlem
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Canoz
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kula
authors.forename: Funda
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bastug
authors.forename: Isin
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gunes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D000833:Animals, Suckling; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects; D001846:Bone Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008098:Litter Size / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D018811:Maternal Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009538:Nicotine / Q000633:toxicity*; D010431:Pentoxifylline / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D009538:Nicotine; D010431:Pentoxifylline