Long-Term Effects of Gestational Nicotine Exposure and Food-Restriction on Gene Expression in the Striatum of Adolescent Rats

摘要: Gestational exposure to environmental toxins such as nicotine may result in detectable gene expression changes later life. To investigate the direct toxic effects of prenatal on brain development, we have used transcriptomic analysis striatal samples identify differences between adolescent Lister Hooded rats exposed utero and controls. Using an additional group animals matched for reduced food intake experienced group, were also able assess impact imposed food-restriction profiles. We found little evidence a role gestational altered striatum offspring at significance level p 0.5|, although cannot exclude possibility nicotine-induced other regions, or time points. did, however, find marked response food-restriction. Food-restriction resulted significant number immediate early genes (IEGs) including Fos, Fosb, Fosl2, Arc, Junb, Nr4a1 Nr4a3. These are associated with stress pathways therefore reflect long-term nutritional deprivation development system.