title: Pesticide exposure during pregnancy, like nicotine, affects the brainstem α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor expression, increasing the risk of sudden unexplained perinatal death.
abstract: This study indicates the impact of nicotine and pesticides (organochlorine and organophosphate insecticides used in agriculture) on neuronal α7-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor expression in brainstem regions receiving cholinergic projections in human perinatal life. An in-depth anatomopathological examination of the autonomic nervous system and immunohistochemistry to analyze the α7-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor expression in the brainstem from 44 fetuses and newborns were performed. In addition, the presence of selected agricultural pesticides in cerebral cortex samples of the victims was determined by specific analytical procedures. Hypodevelopment of brainstem structures checking the vital functions, frequently associated with α7-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor immunopositivity and smoke absorption in pregnancy, was observed in high percentages of victims of sudden unexpected perinatal death. In nearly 30% of cases however the mothers never smoked, but lived in rural areas. The search for pesticides highlighted in many of these cases traces of both organochlorine and organophosphate pesticides. We detain that exposition to pesticides in pregnancy produces homologous actions to those of nicotine on neuronal α7-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, allowing to developmental alterations of brainstem vital centers in victims of sudden unexplained death.
authors.affiliation: "Lino Rossi" Research Center for the Study and Prevention of Unexpected Perinatal Death and SIDS, Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Milan, Italy. Electronic address: anna.lavezzi@unimi.it.
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Lavezzi
authors.affiliation: LC-MS Laboratory, DiSTeVA, University of Urbino, Italy.
authors.forename: Achille
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cappiello
authors.affiliation: Institute of Anatomic Pathology, Hospital of Rovereto (Trento), Italy.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pusiol
authors.affiliation: "Lino Rossi" Research Center for the Study and Prevention of Unexpected Perinatal Death and SIDS, Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Melissa Felicita
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Corna
authors.affiliation: LC-MS Laboratory, DiSTeVA, University of Urbino, Italy.
authors.forename: Veronica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Termopoli
authors.affiliation: "Lino Rossi" Research Center for the Study and Prevention of Unexpected Perinatal Death and SIDS, Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Matturri
mesh_terms: D001933:Brain Stem / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death / Q000209:etiology*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000633:toxicity*; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009538:Nicotine / Q000633:toxicity; D010755:Organophosphates / Q000633:toxicity*; D066087:Perinatal Death / Q000209:etiology*; D010575:Pesticides / Q000633:toxicity*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012424:Rural Population; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D013398:Sudden Infant Death / Q000209:etiology*; D064569:alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D010755:Organophosphates; D010575:Pesticides; D064569:alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor; D009538:Nicotine
keywords: Neuropathology; Nicotine; Nicotinic receptors; Pesticides; SIDS; SIUDS