Effect Of Nicotine And Tobacco Consumption On Brain Acetyl Cholinesterase And Serum Alkaline Phosphatase In Rats

Abstract

The effect of nicotine and tobacco consumption on brain acetyl cholinesterase and serum alkaline phosphatase in rats was studied.



Rats were divided into three groups and the first group was fed rat chow and water ad libitum and an oral administration of 2ml of 0.1%(v/v) nicotine per 100g body weight of rats per day. The second group of rats was fed 0.5% (w/w) tobacco rat chow with water and while the third group was fed rat chow with water ad libitum for 30 days.



The rats were sacrificed by decapitation after starving them overnight, blood was collected by cardiac puncture and their brains were quickly excised. The specific activities of the brain AChE and serum alkaline phosphatase were determined.



Results of the study showed that the specific activity of brain AChE in the nicotine - fed rats and in tobacco - fed rats were significantly higher than in the control. Data indicate that nicotine and tobacco consumption may have excitatory effect on brain AChE activity and serum alkaline phosphatase. However, nicotine consumption produced a more pronounced excitatory effect that in tobacco when fed to rats. Our findings suggest that nicotine and tobacco consumption affect the regulation of brain functions medicated by the cholinergic neurotransmission.

Nigerian Quarterly Journal of Hospital Medicine Vol. 9, No. 2 (June 1999) pp. 153-157