Corpus callosum in adolescent offspring exposed prenatally to maternal cigarette smoking

Neuroimage. 2008 Apr 1;40(2):435-441. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2007.10.066. Epub 2007 Dec 23.

Abstract

Teratogens, such as alcohol or anti-epileptic drugs, affect the size of the corpus callosum. Here we report findings obtained in a case-control study that investigated possible effects of teratogens contained in cigarette smoke on the size and structural properties of this structure. We recruited and scanned with magnetic resonance imaging a total of 408 adolescents (12 to 18 years of age); a subsample of 300 adolescents is considered in this report. Cases (n=146) were exposed to maternal cigarette smoking during pregnancy; non-exposed controls (n=154) were matched to cases by maternal education. We measured the size of corpus callosum (CC) and its sections (corrected for brain size), as well as mean values of magnetization-transfer ratio (MTR) in each CC section. Corpus callosum, and especially its posterior part, was smaller in the exposed vs. non-exposed female adolescents; no significant effects were found in males. Exposed and non-exposed subjects did not differ in the MTR-based index of myelination in either gender in any CC section. Given the lack of exposure effect on the myelination index, this finding might reflect a lower number of inter-hemispheric connections in female offspring of mothers who smoked during pregnancy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Corpus Callosum / anatomy & histology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging*
  • Male
  • Organ Size
  • Pregnancy
  • Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects*
  • Smoking*