Figure 1

In utero Nicotine Exposure Alters Craniofacial Shape. (a) Representative 3D µCT reconstructions demonstrating dysmorphology in the high dose exposed postnatal day 15 animals. Arrows indicate potential points of suture interruption or fusion. n = 12 or 13 per exposure. (b) Weights of 15 day animals did not differ by sex or exposure. n = 12 or 13 per exposure, litter is indicated by symbol and grey bars indicate means. (c,d) Cranial index (cranial width × 100/cranial length) decreased in the low dose exposed however the cranial height was not affected by exposure. n = 12 or 13 per exposure, litter is indicated by symbol as noted in panel b and grey bars indicate means. (e,f) Coronal suture measures indicate some widening of the suture (n = 12 or 13 per exposure) and histomorphometric analysis of suture area indicates increased area with medium dose exposure. n = 4 per exposure, 2 male and 2 female from different litters. (g,h) The height of both the SOS and the ISS did not change with exposure, but the width of the SOS was greater in the medium dose as compared to the low dose. n = 12 or 13 per exposure, litter is indicated by symbol (b) and grey bars indicate means. (i) Low dose exposure demonstrates increased cranial base length as compared to medium dose and control. n = 12 or 13 per exposure, litter is indicated by symbol (b) and grey bars indicate means. *p ≤ 0.05, **p ≤ 0.01.