Postnatal effects of maternal nicotine exposure on the striatal dopaminergic system in rats

Abstract— The biochemical effects of continuous prenatal exposure to nicotine (1·5 mg kg⁻¹ day⁻¹) have been examined in 14 day old male and female rat pups. The ability of striatal tissue slices from the nicotine‐exposed pups to synthesize [³H]dopamine from [³H]tyrosine was enhanced. However, the ability of (+)‐amphetamine to stimulate formation and release of [³H]dopamine from [³H]tyrosine was not affected. Furthermore, prenatal exposure to nicotine increased the rate of striatal dopamine turnover in the male, but not the female nicotine‐exposed pups. 1989 Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain