The Effects of Nicotine Exposure on the Respiratory Rhythm Generator of Neonatal Rats

Many children are exposed to environmental tobacco smoke prenatally and postnatally, which can have adverse health affects throughout life, induding an increased risk of low birth weight, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), obstructive lung disease, cancers, childhood infections, and altered neurodevelopment. The goal of this study was to determine whether postnatal nicotine exposure affects the respiratory rhythm generator in neonatal rats. Brainstem spinal cord preparations from neonatal rats will be exposed to small amounts of nicotine. Spontaneous respiratory activity from C4-C5 ventral roots were recorded with glass suction electrodes. C4-C5 ventral roots contain the phrenic motor axons that supply the diaphragm musde. The results indicate that nicotine exposure affects the respiratory rhythm generator and causes an increase in respiratory frequency