Maternal and Neonatal Exposure to Environmental Tobacco Smoke Targets Pro-Inflammatory Genes in Neonatal Arteries (CBX26). unidentified

Maternal mainstream tobacco smoking is known to have adverse outcomes on fetal respiratory function. However, no data is currently available on the effects of passive exposure to tobacco smoking and environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) on fetal systemic arterial structure and function. Eight pregnant rhesus macaque monkeys were obtained from the California Regional Primate Research Center breeding colony. The estimated gestational age for each dam was established by sonography performed before gestational day 40. Two inhalation chambers were used, each with an air capacity of 3.5 m3, and each housed two dams. Aged and diluted sidestream smoke was used as a surrogate control for ETS. Exposure to ETS occurred for 6 h/day, 5 days/week, beginning on gestational day 100. All dams were allowed to give birth spontaneously and then ETS exposure continued 70-80 days postnatally, with the chamber containing both the mother and infant. Carotid arteries from control (4) and ETS-treated newborns (4) were analyzed for mRNA by gene macroarray and protein by western blotting.