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Prenatal Nicotine Increases Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) Expression in Fetal Guinea Pig Hearts

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Abstract

This study tested the hypothesis that maternal nicotine ingestion increases matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) expression in fetal hearts, which is mediated by the generation of reactive oxygen species. Timed pregnant guinea pigs were administered either water alone, nicotine (200 μg/mL), N-acetylcysteine (NAC), or nicotine plus NAC in their drinking water for 10 days at 52-day gestation (term = 65 days). Near-term (62 days), anesthetized fetuses were extracted, hearts were excised, and left cardiac ventricles snap frozen for analysis of MMP-2/-9/-13 protein and activity levels. Interstitial collagens were identified by Picrosirius red stain to assess changes in the extracellular matrix. Prenatal nicotine increased active MMP-2 forms and interstitial collagen but had no effect on either pro- or active MMP-9 or MMP-13 forms. In the presence of nicotine, NAC decreased active MMP-2 protein levels and reversed the nicotine-induced increase in collagen staining. We conclude that prenatal nicotine alters MMP-2 expression in fetal hearts that may be mediated by reactive oxygen species generation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Maryland, Bressler Research Bldg., Rm 11-029, 655 W. Baltimore St, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA

    Loren P. Thompson PhD & Hongshan Liu MD

  2. Department of Physiology, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA

    LaShauna Evans BS

  3. Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Jessica A. Mong PhD

Authors
  1. Loren P. Thompson PhD
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  2. Hongshan Liu MD
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  3. LaShauna Evans BS
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Correspondence to Loren P. Thompson PhD.

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Thompson, L.P., Liu, H., Evans, L. et al. Prenatal Nicotine Increases Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) Expression in Fetal Guinea Pig Hearts. Reprod. Sci. 18, 1103–1110 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1177/1933719111404605

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