TY - JOUR

T1 - Sex-specific alterations in GABA receptor-mediated responses in laterodorsal tegmentum (LDT) are associated with prenatal exposure to nicotine

AU - Eliasen, Jannik Nicklas

AU - Krall, Jacob

AU - Frølund, Bente

AU - Kohlmeier, Kristi A

N1 - This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

PY - 2020

Y1 - 2020

N2 - Smoking during pregnancy is associated with deleterious physiological and cognitive effects on the offspring, which are likely due to nicotine-induced alteration of development of neurotransmitter systems. Prenatal nicotine exposure (PNE) in rodents is associated with changes in behaviors controlled in part by the pontine laterodorsal tegmentum (LDT), and LDT excitatory signaling is altered in a sex and age-dependent manner by PNE. As effects on GABAergic LDT signaling are unknown, we used calcium imaging to evaluate GABAA receptor- (GABAA R as well as GABAA -ρ R) and GABAB receptor (GABAB R)-mediated calcium responses in LDT brain slices from female and male PNE mice in two different age groups. Overall, in older PNE females, changes in calcium induced by stimulation of GABAA R and GABAB R, including GABAA -ρ R were shifted towards calcium rises. In both young and old males, PNE was associated with alterations in calcium mediated by all three receptors; however, the GABAA R was the most affected. These results show for the first time that PNE is associated with alterations in GABAergic transmission in the LDT in a sex- and age-dependent manner, and is the first to show PNE-associated alterations in functionality of GABA receptors in any nucleus. PNE-associated alterations in LDT GABAergic transmission within the LDT would be expected to alter output to target regions and could play a role in LDT-implicated negative behavioral outcomes following gestational exposure to smoking. Accordingly, our data provide further supportive evidence of the importance of eliminating the consumption of nicotine during pregnancy.

AB - Smoking during pregnancy is associated with deleterious physiological and cognitive effects on the offspring, which are likely due to nicotine-induced alteration of development of neurotransmitter systems. Prenatal nicotine exposure (PNE) in rodents is associated with changes in behaviors controlled in part by the pontine laterodorsal tegmentum (LDT), and LDT excitatory signaling is altered in a sex and age-dependent manner by PNE. As effects on GABAergic LDT signaling are unknown, we used calcium imaging to evaluate GABAA receptor- (GABAA R as well as GABAA -ρ R) and GABAB receptor (GABAB R)-mediated calcium responses in LDT brain slices from female and male PNE mice in two different age groups. Overall, in older PNE females, changes in calcium induced by stimulation of GABAA R and GABAB R, including GABAA -ρ R were shifted towards calcium rises. In both young and old males, PNE was associated with alterations in calcium mediated by all three receptors; however, the GABAA R was the most affected. These results show for the first time that PNE is associated with alterations in GABAergic transmission in the LDT in a sex- and age-dependent manner, and is the first to show PNE-associated alterations in functionality of GABA receptors in any nucleus. PNE-associated alterations in LDT GABAergic transmission within the LDT would be expected to alter output to target regions and could play a role in LDT-implicated negative behavioral outcomes following gestational exposure to smoking. Accordingly, our data provide further supportive evidence of the importance of eliminating the consumption of nicotine during pregnancy.

U2 - 10.1002/dneu.22772

DO - 10.1002/dneu.22772

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 32628361

VL - 80

SP - 178

EP - 199

JO - Developmental Neurobiology

JF - Developmental Neurobiology

SN - 1932-8451

IS - 5-6

ER -