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A sensitive period in gestation for nicotine acceleration of neuromuscular maturation
Author(s) -
Rose Kenneth J.,
Strand Fleur L.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
international journal of developmental neuroscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.761
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1873-474X
pISSN - 0736-5748
DOI - 10.1016/0736-5748(91)90050-v
Subject(s) - nicotine , isometric exercise , tetanus , medicine , gestation , endocrinology , offspring , anesthesia , pregnancy , biology , genetics , immunology , vaccination
Nicotine, administered to pregnant Sprague‐Dawley rat dams during gestation, altered the maturation of the developing extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscle‐peroneal nerve complex of the 2‐week‐old offspring. Initial isometric twitch time to peak and rate of rise of tension and tetanus time to peak tension of the group treated with nicotine during gestational (G) days G3–G8 were faster than controls indicating accelerated maturation of EDL muscle. Contractile parameters of the group treated with nicotine during G9–G13, a period immediately prior to muscle innervation, differed little from control. Nicotine administered during G14–G21 significantly increased twitch and tetanus tension and twitch rate of rise. There was little to no effect on motor unit size or number of motor units with nicotine during any of the three prenatal periods. Thus, while late prenatal nicotine administration primarily altered the strength of muscle, early gestational administration of nicotine increased the rate of muscle development suggesting a possible sensitive period for the accelerative action of nicotine on muscle maturation at this time.