Effects of Prenatal Tobacco Smoke on Cerebellum Histomorphological Changes at Critical Developmental Stages in CD-1 Mice

Abstract

In this study the consequences of prenatal exposure to tobacco smokes on the histo-morphological changes of cerebellum was assessed by comparing the smoker mice to the nonsmoker mice. A total of 30 pregnant cd-1 mice were divided into t hree groups of 10 mice each and with two replicates per group (5 mice each). Following acclimation for five days, the mice were plac ed in a special modified smoking machine for 2 hours per day over a twoand three-week period for group two and group three, respectiv ly. Group one was considered as a control group. Mice in the control group were exposed simultaneously to fresh air from the room, whil those in the treatment groups were exposed to tobacco smoke from six commercial filter cigarettes, containing 0.8 mg of nicotin e, 10 mg of tar, and 10 mg of carbon monoxide, for three 1-hour exposure periods every day for three weeks. The mice in the control grou p were exposed to room air for three 1-hour periods every day for the same period of three weeks. The results from this study showed a correlation between maternal smoking and histological changes in Neuron purkinjense (Purkinje cells) of the cerebellum. They al so showed that prenatal smoking period may have caused more damage in the histology and structure of Neuron purkinjense in some juvenile mice. An increased incidence of morphology damage of the cerebellum’s Neuron purkinjense’ structures was also observed in fetuses with prolonged exposure to tobacco smoking. Exposure of in utero maternal smoking may interfere with brain biological development parameters, giving rise to structural abnormalities of the cerebellum. This study concluded that tobacco smoke exposu re to pregnant mice may affect neurodevelopment which may induce behavioural changes as a result of reduced cerebellar size and funct ion.