Exposure to cigarette smoke altered the cytoarchitecture and anti-oxidant activity of the frontal cortex in Wistar rats

Abstract

This study was designed to determine the effects of cigarette smoke on the body weights of Wistar rats, anti-oxidant activity and the histology of the frontal cortex. Sixteen Wistar rats with mean weight of 131.40 ± 4.43 g were used. They were grouped into four. Group A had a stick of cigarette (Pall Mall brand ^®) daily, group B had two sticks and group C had three sticks daily, while Group D served as the control group. They were exposed at 1800 hrs each day for thirty five days, and their weights were monitored. After sacrifice by cervical dislocation, the tissues were processed for histological and biochemical studies. The results showed minimal weight change in the exposed groups compared to the marked increase in the control group. The activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) enzyme increased while there was decrease in malondialdehyde (MDA) activity. The histology also showed decreased staining of the nucleic acids as well as increased vacuolations in the exposed groups. The authors suggested these findings could alter brain functions particularly those related to the frontal cortex.

Keywords: Cigarette smoke, frontal cortex, GPx, MDA, nucleic acids.