Developmental nicotine exposure increased cortical dendritic complexity, levels of Ash2l and Mef2c (components of a histone methyltransferase complex), and H3MeK4 trimethylation at promoters of genes involved in synapse maintenance. Knockdown and overexpression experiments in utero showed that Ash2l and Mef2c regulate nicotine-mediated dendritic remodeling and changes in passive avoidance behavior.
- Yonwoo Jung
- Lawrence S Hsieh
- Marina R Picciotto