Cerebral cytoarchitectural and biochemical alterations in mice: Effects of Nicotiana tabacum leaves smoke exposure

Abstract

The effects of tobacco use on one’s health are well known, and are documented in detailed and reliable scientific reports. In 2001, Health Canadaestimated that 21% of deaths in Canadawere attributed to smoking. On the other hand, estimates for the total cost of smoking incurred by the whole of society, vary considerably. The arm of this study is to investigate the some effects of smoke tobacco on the neocortex of juvenile mice. This study investigated the some of the effects of corresponding 10.72 mg/kg body weight and 5.36 mg/kg body weight/ day of the tobacco leaves ethanolic extract and smoke for a period of 21 days on the frontal lobe in juvenile mice. The presumably healthy animals were randomly divided into 4 groups, A, B, C and D of 5 mice each. Group A 10.72 mg of the tobacco smoke exposure for 3 minutes, B 5.36 mg of the tobacco smoke exposure for 3 minutes, C were given 0.2 ml of normal saline and D were expose to equal weight (0.02 g) of cotton wool of 3 minutes for 21 experimental days. The mice were sacrificed, 4 hours after the last administration, by cervical dislocation and the brains excised, blotted, weight and some were fixed in formol calcium for neurohistological analysis, using Haematoxylin and Eosin, and Cresyl Fast Violet (CFV) while others were quickly homogenized in 0.5M sucrose solution for biochemical assay. There was a statistical significant decrease in the body weight, brain weight and relative brain weight between experimental groups compared to the control group (p<0.05). The results suggested that the consumption of N. tabacum leaves smoke may lead to some level of neurocellular degeneration, carbohydrate metabolism and also help in reduction in weight gain.