Effect of Nicotine on Glutamatergic & GABAergic Neurotransmission in Developing Brain

Anant Bahadur Patel¹, Mohammad Shameem¹

Neurological changes associated with nicotine exposure during gestation and lactation is not properly understood. In this study we have used a novel approach of co-infusion of [U-¹³C₆]glucose and [2-¹³C]acetate to investigate the effect of nicotine on glutamatergic and GABAergic neurotransmission in developing brain. The glutamatergic and astroglial energy consumption and the corresponding neurotransmission were increased significantly in cortical and subcortical brain regions of pups exposed with nicotine during gestation and lactation period.