Effects Of Folic Acid Versus Nicotine On Bone Development

Purpose: Nicotine exposure during pregnancy directly or indirectly harms not only the mother but also the fetal tissues. The aim of this study is to investigate the possible effects of folic acid given against nicotine used during pregnancy on bone development of fetuses. Materials and Methods: 18 adult female rats were divided into control, low-dose nicotine (LDN), high-dose nicotine (HDN), low-dose nicotine + folic acid (LDN + FA), high-dose nicotine + folic acid (HDN + FA), and folic acid (FA) group equally. During 20 days, 1 ml/kg serum physiologic (SP) solution to the control group, 3 mg/kg nicotine to LDN, 6 mg/kg nicotine to HDN, 3 mg/kg nicotine and 400 µg/kg FA to LDN+FA, 6 mg/kg nicotine and 400 µg/kg FA to HDN+FA, 400 µg/kg FA to the FA group was administered. Bones of fetuses taken by cesarean section on the 20th day of pregnancy were stained with the bilateral skeleton staining technique. The stained anterior and posterior extremity bones were photographed under a stereomicroscope. Bone length, extent of ossification and percentage of ossification were measured. Statistical data were evaluated using the R programming language (v. 3.2.3). Results: The bone development of LDN and HDN groups was significantly lower and LDN+FA and HDN+FA groups was close to the control group (p<0.05). Conclusion: While nicotine used during pregnancy decreases the bone development of fetuses, FA may decrease this effect and increase ossification.