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Researchers find link between smoking and SIDS

A new study at McMaster University has highlighted the relationship between women who smoke while pregnant, or are exposed to second-hand smoke, and an increased risk of SIDS to their babies.

Washington, Jan 30 : A new study at McMaster University has highlighted the relationship between women who smoke while pregnant, or are exposed to second-hand smoke, and an increased risk of SIDS to their babies.

Researchers have discovered the mechanism that gives the reason behind why an infant's ability to respond to oxygen deprivation after birth, or a hypoxic episode, is considerably reduced by exposure to nicotine in the womb, even light to moderate amounts.

The research is led by Josef Buttigieg, a PhD graduate student in the department of Biology and was conducted on laboratory rats in collaboration with Dr. Alison Holloway.

"While cigarette smoke contains many different compounds, we found there is a direct impact of one component, nicotine, on the ability of certain cells to detect and respond to oxygen deprivation. When a baby is lying face down in bed, for example, it should sense a reduction in oxygen and move its head. But this arousal mechanism doesn't work as it should in babies exposed to nicotine during pregnancy," he said.

The research elaborated the critical role played by catecholamines, a group of hormones released by the adrenal glands, in a baby's transition to the outside world.

Buttigieg explained that at the time of birth, the baby is exposed to low oxygen, signalling the adrenal glands to release the catecholamines, which contain adrenaline, or the 'fight or flight' hormone.

Catecholamines play a major role in signalling the baby's lungs to reabsorb fluid, to take its first breath, and help the heart to beat more efficiently.

Also for a few months after birth, the adrenal gland acts as an oxygen sensor, and helps in the baby's arousal and breathing responses during periods of apnea or asphyxia.

However, the ability to release catecholamines during these moments, a critical event in the adaptation of life outside the womb, is spoiled due to nicotine exposure.

"At birth, the nervous control of the adrenal gland is not active and so a baby relies on these direct oxygen sensing mechanisms to release catecholamines. But nicotine causes premature loss of these mechanisms, which would normally occur later in development after nervous control is established. Thus, the infant becomes much more vulnerable to SIDS," said Colin Nurse, academic advisor on the study and a professor in the department of Biology.

The findings of this study are published online in the journal Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) and will appear in the May 2008 print issue.

ANI