Ultrastructural changes in neonatal sciatic nerve tissue: effects of passive maternal smoking.

The dangers of cigarette smoking having already been recognized, this study attempts to delineate findings from a passive smoking study at the ultrastructural level. The project utilized a model of mice subjected to cigarette smoke and encompassed the electron microscopic examination of neonatal tissue for morphological abnormalities. Study of sciatic nerve tissue taken from the offspring of passively smoked females revealed definite toxic effects on the neonatal tissue. This investigation, which concentrated on morphological changes, indicates that passive maternal smoke inhalation may result in abnormal changes to the fine structure of fetal tissue although further investigation in this area is necessary to broaden our knowledge and understanding of the mechanisms involved.