Evaluation of the role of omega-3 fatty acids in nicotine-induced neurotoxicity in pregnant Wistar rats and their pups

This study investigated maternal and their pup neurobehaviour following nicotine exposure during gestational and postnatal periods and neuroprotective effect of Omega-3 fatty acids. Thus, the study used thirty pregnant female Wistar rats for this study. Groups I and II (nonpregnant and pregnant) were treated with 1 ml/kg/day of normal saline for 42 days; III was treated with 4 mg/kg/day of nicotine for 42 days; IV-VI were co-administered nicotine 4 mg/kg and 100, 300, 600 mg/kg/day of Omega-3 fatty acids respectively for 42 days. Results: The beam walk time of the mother rats in groups III and IV were significantly higher when compared with other groups. Similarly, the beam walks time of the pups of groups III and IV were significantly higher when compared with the pups of the mother rats in other groups. The brain dopamine and serotonin levels of mother rats in groups III, IV and V were significantly higher when compared with other groups. Also, the brain dopamine and serotonin levels of the pups in groups III and IV were significantly higher when compared with the pups in other groups. The reduced glutathione and catalase of mother and pup rats in groups III and IV were significantly lower when compared with other groups. Photomicrographs of cerebellum and hippocampus of the rats treated with nicotine showed scattered arrangement of pyramidal cells with vacuolated neurons. These alterations were significantly reversed with Omega-3 fatty acids following nicotine exposure. Conclusions. Omega-3 fatty acids at 300 and 600 mg/kg ameliorated nicotine-induced neurotoxicity in mother rats and their pups.