Possible role of the α7 nicotinic receptors in mediating nicotine’s effect on developing lung – implications in unexplained human perinatal death

Table 2 Pathological results

		Sudden perinatal deaths		Controls
		SIUDS	SIDS	Fetuses	Newborns
		n.45	n.15	n.16	n.8
Lung pathology
Lung hypoplasia		n.33 (73%)**	n.5 (33%)	n.0 (0%)	n.2 (25%)
*RAC* (mean value)
Age	Reference value		-	-	-
32-35 gw	3.2±0.9	2.1±0.4	-	-	-
36-39 gw	3.6±0.9	2.7±0.2	-	-	-
1-3 pm	5.5±1.4	-	3.0±0.5	-	4.0
*α7 nAChR strong immunopositivity*		n.22 (49%)**	n.8 (53%)*	n.0 (0%)	n.3 (37%)
Brainstem pathology
Brainstem nuclei hypoplasia⁽¹⁾		n.38 (84%)**	n.10 (67%)**	n.0 (0%)	n.3 (37%)
Raphe nuclei		28	8	-	-
Parafacial nucleus		11	8	-	-
Kölliker-Fuse nucleus		11	-	-	-
Pre-Bötzinger nucleus		12	6	-	-
Arcuate nucleus		12	6	-	3

gw= gestational weeks; pm= postnatal months; RAC= radial alveolar count.
⁽¹⁾Individual victims may display any combination of brainstem alterations.
Statistical significant differences (SIUDS and SIDS vs. corresponding controls): *= p<0.05; **= p< 0.01.

ISSN: 1471-2466