The Effects of Smoking on the Developing Fetus Essay -- Health Medical

The effectuate of Smoking on the growing FetusThe exposure of the fetus to nicotine during evolution has several effects. The most well known bequeath of smoking is poor birth weight of the infant. There are also some studies that attain nicotine as a drug that can affect the brain of the underdeveloped fetus. Nicotine also has direct effects on the neurotransmitter systems in the CNS and may cause a decrease in cell return which could precede in mental impairment. The correlation between maternal smoking and modest birth weight has been strongly established. Nicotine affects the eutherian function by generate the release of norepinephrine and epinephrine into the maternal blood, which causes decreased blood range to the placenta (1). The decreased blood flow causes a decrease in economy of oxygen and nutrients to the fetus. This may have an effect on cell growth and development. High levels of carboxyhemoglobin are present in the blood of the mother and the fetus. Th is may decrease the capacity of the blood to transport oxygen and foetal hypoxia is the result (2). Fetal hypoxia and ischemia are major contributors to developmental defects, but nicotine has been implicated, in various studies, to have a direct affect on fetal development (3). Several studies suggest that nicotine interferes with cell acquisition and development in various brain regions. The developing nervous system seems to be to a greater extent vulnerable to nicotine exposure than the rest of the body (4). This is important since nicotine readily crosses the placental barrier and fetal blood concentrations are equal to or higher up that of the mother (1). DNA can be used as a index for measuring cell acquisition. An experiment on rats by Lichtensteiger et. al. inform that DN... ...r. (1988) Prenatal adverse effects of nicotine on the developing brain. Progress in Brain Research. 73137-157. 2. Moore, K. L. The Developing Human Clinically oriented embryology, quaternary edit ion. Philadelphia PA W.B. Saunders Co., 1988, p.146. 3.Navarro, H. A., F. J. Seidler, J. P. Eylers, F. E. Baker, S. S. Dobbins, S. E. Lappi, T. A. Slotkin. (1989) Effects of Prenatal Nicotine Exposure on Development of telephone exchange and Peripheral Cholinergic Neurotransmitter brasss. Evidence for Cholinergic Trophic Influences in Developing Brain. The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, 251(3)894-900. 4. Navarro, H. A., F. J. Seidler, R. D. Schwartz, F. E. Baker, S. S. Dobbins, T. A. Slotkin. (1989) Prenatal Exposure to Nicotine Impairs Nervous System Development at a Dose Which Does Not Affect Viability or Growth. Brain Research Bulletin. 23187-192.