Effects of Maternal Nicotine Exposure on Fibronectin Expression in the Kidney of Mouse Newborns in Embryonic and Milking Period

Background: Tobacco use in various forms, including hookah, has increased in recent years, especially among young people, who are the group of reproductive age. In the present study, the effect of nicotine on fibronectin expression as a component of basement membrane and extracellular matrix was evaluated in the kidney tissue of neonates whose mothers were exposed to cigarette smoke during pregnancy and lactation period. Methods: Fibronectin expression on days 1, 7, 14, and 21 after delivery was evaluated in the kidneys of Balb/C mice neonates whose mothers were exposed to cigarette smoking during pregnancy and lactation periods. Immunohistochemical and real-time PCR evaluations were performed, and a comparison was made with the control groups. In the experimental groups, nicotine dissolved in saline was injected subcutaneously at a dose of 2 mg/kg daily until the desired day. Results: Our results demonstrated that the expression level of fibronectin increased in nicotine-administrated newborns compared to the healthy controls on days 1 (P = 0.043) and 7 (P = 0.008). The intensity of color reaction on days 1 and 7 was significantly higher in the main kidney structures, including glomeruli and proximal and distal convoluted tubules, in the experimental group than in the control group. The maximum fibronectin expression level was observed on day 7 in the experimental group in comparison with the control group. Conclusions: Nicotine may decrease glomerular filtration rate by increasing fibronectin expression in the basement membrane and extracellular matrix, thereby justifying renal failure in infants exposed to nicotine during embryonic and lactation periods.