title: Antiteratogenic Effects of β-Carotene in Cultured Mouse Embryos Exposed to Nicotine.
abstract: After maternal intake, nicotine crosses the placental barrier and causes severe embryonic disorders and fetal death. In this study, we investigated whether β -carotene has a beneficial effect against nicotine-induced teratogenesis in mouse embryos (embryonic day 8.5) cultured for 48 h in a whole embryo culture system. Embryos exposed to nicotine (1 mM) exhibited severe morphological anomalies and apoptotic cell death, as well as increased levels of TNF- α , IL-1 β , and caspase 3 mRNAs, and lipid peroxidation. The levels of cytoplasmic superoxide dismutase (SOD), mitochondrial manganese-dependent SOD, cytosolic glutathione peroxidase (GPx), phospholipid hydroperoxide GPx, hypoxia inducible factor 1 α , and Bcl-x L  mRNAs decreased, and SOD activity was reduced compared to the control group. However, when β -carotene (1 × 10(-7) or 5 × 10(-7) μM) was present in cultures of embryos exposed to nicotine, these parameters improved significantly. These findings indicate that β -carotene effectively protects against nicotine-induced teratogenesis in mouse embryos through its antioxidative, antiapoptotic, and anti-inflammatory activities.
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine and Research Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 361-763, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Chunmei
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Jung-Min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Yon
authors.forename: A Young
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Jong Geol
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ki Youn
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Beom Jun
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Young Won
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.forename: Sang-Yoon
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Nam