Ultrastructural changes in preputial neural tissues: effects of maternal smoking.

The fetal prepuce was studied for neural changes due to maternal smoking during pregnancy. Prepuces from 10 newborns whose mothers smoked throughout pregnancy and from 4 newborns of nonsmoking mothers were examined by transmission electron microscope. Significant ultrastructural changes were seen in the neural tissues of the newborns of smoking mothers. The ultrastructural changes observed were: (1) local aggregation of mitochondria; (2) many myelin bodies, and (3) dilated Golgi apparatus and dilated endoplasmic reticulum of the Schwann cell. Similar changes have been reported in neuropathies due to various drugs, chemicals and deficiency states. These findings suggest adverse effects on fetal preputial neural tissue due to maternal smoking.