Biomaterial Database

Smoking during pregnancy--effects on the fetus and on thiocyanate levels in mother and baby. 1979

A Meberg, and H Sande, and O P Foss, and J T Stenwig

Twenty-eight mothers smoking 10--20 cigarettes daily during pregnancy had significantly higher serum thiocyanate concentrations at delivery compared in 25 non-smoking controls. The thiocyanate levels were positively correlated to cigarette consumption and inversely correlated to the birth weights of the infants. A highly significant correlation existed between serum thiocyanate levels of the mother and umbilical cord serum thiocyanate levels, reflecting a nearly complete equilibration. The thiocyanate concentrations in human milk on the 4th day after delivery were considerably lower than the serum concentrations, and no correlation existed between serum and milk concentrations. The infants of smoking mothers had significantly decreased weight and length at birth compared in infants of non-smokers. Birth weights were 3 344 +/- 434 g and 3 620 +/- 504 g respectively (p less than 0.05), and lengths 49.8 +/- 1.7 cm and 51 +/- 1.6 cm respectively (p less than 0.05). No differences were found between smokers and non-smokers in placental and umbilical cord histology, and umbilical cord artery medial area. It is concluded that serum thiocyanate concentration in smokers may be used as an objective measure for smoke exposure, and that maternal cigarette smoking acts as an exogenous factor which interferes with intrauterine development of the fetus in a dose related way.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007231	Infant, Newborn	An infant during the first 28 days after birth.	Neonate,Newborns,Infants, Newborn,Neonates,Newborn,Newborn Infant,Newborn Infants
D008431	Maternal-Fetal Exchange	Exchange of substances between the maternal blood and the fetal blood at the PLACENTA via PLACENTAL CIRCULATION. The placental barrier excludes microbial or viral transmission.	Transplacental Exposure,Exchange, Maternal-Fetal,Exposure, Transplacental,Maternal Fetal Exchange
D008895	Milk, Human	Milk that is produced by HUMAN MAMMARY GLANDS.	Breast Milk,Human Milk,Milk, Breast
D009929	Organ Size	The measurement of an organ in volume, mass, or heaviness.	Organ Volume,Organ Weight,Size, Organ,Weight, Organ
D010920	Placenta	A highly vascularized mammalian fetal-maternal organ and major site of transport of oxygen, nutrients, and fetal waste products. It includes a fetal portion (CHORIONIC VILLI) derived from TROPHOBLASTS and a maternal portion (DECIDUA) derived from the uterine ENDOMETRIUM. The placenta produces an array of steroid, protein and peptide hormones (PLACENTAL HORMONES).	Placentoma, Normal,Placentome,Placentas,Placentomes
D011247	Pregnancy	The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH.	Gestation,Pregnancies
D001724	Birth Weight	The mass or quantity of heaviness of an individual at BIRTH. It is expressed by units of pounds or kilograms.	Birthweight,Birth Weights,Birthweights,Weight, Birth,Weights, Birth
D005260	Female		Females
D005333	Fetus	The unborn young of a viviparous mammal, in the postembryonic period, after the major structures have been outlined. In humans, the unborn young from the end of the eighth week after CONCEPTION until BIRTH, as distinguished from the earlier EMBRYO, MAMMALIAN.	Fetal Structures,Fetal Tissue,Fetuses,Mummified Fetus,Retained Fetus,Fetal Structure,Fetal Tissues,Fetus, Mummified,Fetus, Retained,Structure, Fetal,Structures, Fetal,Tissue, Fetal,Tissues, Fetal
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man