Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Transgenerational effects of fetal and neonatal exposure to nicotine

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Endocrine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A wide variety of in utero insults are associated with an increased incidence of metabolic disorders in the offspring and in subsequent generations. We have shown that fetal and neonatal exposure to nicotine results in endocrine and metabolic changes in the offspring that are consistent with those observed in type 2 diabetes. This study examines whether fetal and neonatal exposure to nicotine has transgenerational effects in the F2 offspring. Female Wistar rats were given either saline or nicotine (1 mg/kg/d) during pregnancy and lactation to create saline- and nicotine-exposed female F1 progeny. These F1 females were then bred to produce F2 offspring. We examined glucose homeostasis, serum lipids and fat pad weights, mitochondrial enzyme activity in skeletal muscle and blood pressure in these F2 offspring between 13 and 15 weeks of age. Offspring of nicotine- versus saline-exposed mothers had elevated fasting serum insulin concentrations and an enhanced total insulin response to the glucose challenge. This apparent insulin resistance was unrelated to changes in skeletal muscle mitochondrial volume or activity. The offspring of nicotine-exposed mothers also had elevated blood pressure. These data demonstrate that adverse effects of fetal and neonatal exposure to nicotine can influence aspects of metabolic risk in subsequent generations.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. A. Al Mamun, D.A. Lawlor, R. Alati, M.J. O’Callaghan, G.M. Williams, J.M. Najman, Am. J. Epidemiol. 164, 317–325 (2006)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. C.E. Bertram, M.A. Hanson, Reproduction 124, 459–467 (2002)

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. M.S. Martin-Gronert, S.E. Ozanne, Biochem. Soc. Trans. 34, 779–782 (2006)

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. I.C. McMillen, J.S. Robinson, Physiol. Rev. 85, 571–633 (2005)

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. E. Oken, S.Y. Huh, E.M. Taveras, J.W. Rich-Edwards, M.W. Gillman, Obes. Res. 13, 2021–2028 (2005)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. M.D. Anway, A.S. Cupp, M. Uzumcu, M.K. Skinner, Science 308, 1466–1469 (2005)

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. H.S. Chang, M.D. Anway, S.S. Rekow, M.K. Skinner, Endocrinology 147, 5524–5541 (2006)

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. T. Nomura, J. Radiat. Res. 47(Suppl), B83–B97 (2006)

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. M. Uzumcu, R. Zachow, Reprod. Toxicol. 23, 337–352 (2007)

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. J. Boloker, S.J. Gertz, R.A. Simmons, Diabetes 51, 1499–1506 (2002)

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. E. Zambrano, P.M. Martinez-Samayoa, C.J. Bautista, M. Deas, L. Guillen, G.L. Rodriguez-Gonzalez, C. Guzman, F. Larrea, P.W. Nathanielsz, J. Physiol. 566, 225–236 (2005)

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. P.D. Gluckman, M.A. Hanson, A.S. Beedle, BioEssays 29, 145–154 (2007)

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. A.C. Holloway, G.E. Lim, J.J. Petrik, W.G. Foster, K.M. Morrison, H.C. Gerstein, Diabetologia 48, 2661–2666 (2005)

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. S.M. Montgomery, A. Ekbom, BMJ 324, 26–27 (2002)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. M. Thamotharan, M. Garg, S. Oak, L.M. Rogers, G. Pan, F. Sangiorgi, P.W. Lee, S.U. Devaskar, Am. J. Physiol. Endocrinol. Metab. 292, E1270–E1279 (2007)

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. K.F. Petersen, S. Dufour, D. Befroy, R. Garcia, G.I. Shulman, N. Eng. J. Med. 350, 664–671 (2004)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. D.E. Kelley, J. He, E.V. Menshikova, V.B. Ritov, Diabetes 51, 2944–2950 (2002)

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. K. Morino, K.F. Petersen, G.I. Shulman, Diabetes 55(Suppl 2), S9–S15 (2006)

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. K.F. Petersen, G.I. Shulman, Am. J. Med. 119(5 Suppl 1), S10–S16 (2006)

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. V.B. Ritov, E.V. Menshikova, J. He, R.E. Ferrell, B.H. Goodpaster, D.E. Kelley, Diabetes 54, 8–14 (2005)

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. L. Aerts, F.A. Van Assche, Int. J. Biochem. Cell Biol. 38, 894–903 (2006)

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. K. Aagaard-Tillery, C. Holmgren, M. Varner, W. Branch, R. Silver, R. McKnight, R. Lane, V. Rehan, J. Soc. Gyn. Inv. 13(Suppl), 204A Abstract (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  23. T. Soma, J. Kaganoi, A. Kawabe, K. Kondo, M. Imamura, Y. Shimada, Int. J. Cancer. 119, 1023–1027 (2006)

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. E. Chanseaume, C. Malpuech-Brugere, V. Patrac, G. Bielicki, P. Rousset, K. Couturier, J. Salles, J.P. Renou, Y. Boirie, B. Morio, J. Nutr. 136, 2194–2200 (2006)

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. J.E. Bruin, L.D. Kellenberger, H.C. Gerstein, K.M. Morrison, A.C. Holloway, J. Endocrinol. 194, 171–178 (2007)

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. A.C. Holloway, L.D. Kellenberger, J.J. Petrik, Endocrine 30, 213–216 (2006)

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. L. George, F. Granath, A.L.V. Johansson, S. Cnattingius, Acta Obstet. Gynecol. Scand. 85, 1331–1337 (2006)

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. G. Parise, A.N. Brose, M.A. Tarnopolsky, Exp. Gerontol. 40, 173–180 (2005)

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by an operating grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research in Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes to ACH and KMM (MOP 69025). Dr. Gerstein holds the Population Health Institute Chair in Diabetes Research (sponsored by Aventis). We thank the staff of the McMaster University Central Animal Facility for assistance with the animal work and Ms. Suzanne Southwind for technical assistance with the mitochondrial enzyme assays. Funding for the mitochondrial assessment was kindly provided by Mr. Warren Lammert and Ms Kathy Corkins as a donation to Dr. Tarnopolsky.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Reproductive Biology Division, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, McMaster University, RM HSC-3N52, 1200 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, Canada, L8N 3Z5

    Alison C. Holloway & Donald Q. Cuu

  2. Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada, L8N 3Z5

    Katherine M. Morrison & Mark A. Tarnopolsky

  3. Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada, L8N 3Z5

    Hertzel C. Gerstein & Mark A. Tarnopolsky

Authors
  1. Alison C. Holloway
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Donald Q. Cuu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Katherine M. Morrison
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Hertzel C. Gerstein
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Mark A. Tarnopolsky
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Alison C. Holloway.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Holloway, A.C., Cuu, D.Q., Morrison, K.M. et al. Transgenerational effects of fetal and neonatal exposure to nicotine. Endocr 31, 254–259 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12020-007-0043-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12020-007-0043-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation