The influence of maternal nicotine exposure on neonatal rat trachea development and alveoli status

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of maternal nicotine exposure on the status of the rat tracheal development as well as the rat lung of 7 to 42 day old offspring. Wistar dams were injected subcutaneously, using a dosage of 1 mg nicotine/kg body mass/day, and treatment commenced 7 days after conception. The morphological and morphometric data were used to evaluate any damage or change in the structure of the trachea and lungs due to maternal nicotine exposure. Three techniques were used namely, light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Both morphological status and morphometric data were obtained from the sample animals.