Figure 4

Figure 4

Embryonic nicotine exposure reduces cartilage in the neurocranium. (A) Neurocranium cartilages measurements. (B) Neurocranium total length was reduced following exposure to 25 or 50 µM nicotine. (C) The anterior neurocranium was reduced in all nicotine-exposed groups. (D) Length of the posterior neurocranium and (E) the trabeculae were not affected. Ethmoid plate in length (F) and width (G) was reduced by exposure to 25 µM or 50 µM nicotine. Sample sizes are as follows: DMSO n = 8; 12.5 µM nicotine n = 6; 25 µM nicotine n = 7; and 50 µM nicotine n = 8; epl, plate length; epw, plate width; tr, trabecula; n, neurocranium; an, anterior neurocranium; pn, posterior neurocranium. * = p < 0.05; ** = p < 0.01; *** = p < 0.001; **** = p < 0.0001. All images were captured at 10× magnification. Scale bar 50 µm.