Abstract
We investigated some reproductive actions of hookah smoke (HS) exposure (30 min/day, for 30 days) in male mice, and the possible mitigative effect of the prebiotic agent gum acacia (GA) thereon. Control mice were air-exposed (AE). Twenty-four hours after the last exposure, the levels of some plasma reproductive hormones, biochemical markers of inflammation, oxidative and nitrosative stress and testicular histopathology were assessed. The urinary level of cotinine, a major nicotine metabolite, was also measured. HS exposure induced significant decreases in testosterone, estradiol, luteinizing hormone, and androgen binding protein, as well as glutathione reductase activity and levels of nitrite and total nitrite. Plasma inhibin B, alkaline phosphatase, lipopolysaccharide binding protein, uric acid, lactate dehydrogenase, lipid peroxidation, 8-oxo-2’-deoxyguanosine, and cytochrome C were significantly increased following HS exposure. In testicular homogenate, nuclear factor-κB (NF-ĸB), nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (Nrf2), interleukin- 6 (IL-6), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), transforming growth factor-β1(TGF- β1), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF- α) were all significantly elevated, and the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) significantly decreased. Histopathologically, there was slight impairment and disorganization of spermatogenesis. Urinary cotinine concentration was elevated significantly in the HS-exposed group compared with the air-exposed group. GA co-administration mitigated the adverse actions of HS measured. In conclusion, daily exposure to HS at the above dose induced adverse actions on the reproductive system of male mice. GA co-administration significantly mitigated these effects by reducing the inflammation, oxidative and nitrosative stress, via a mechanism involving Nrf2, and reduction of StAR expression.
Highlights
Hookah smoking (HS) is a type of smoking that dates back to the 15th century in India and ancient Persia
gum acacia (GA) (15% w/v) was given to mice in the drinking water for 30 days, during which they were exposed to hookah smoke (HS) (30 min/day for 30 days)
We showed that exposure of mice to HS for 30 consecutive days caused significant reductions in the testicular protective antioxidant and anti-inflammatory indices, and in the plasma concentrations of the hormones testosterone, estradiol, and luteinizing hormone (LH)
Summary
Hookah smoking (HS) ( termed, water pipe, hubble-bubble, qalyân, lulava, and shisha) is a type of smoking that dates back to the 15th century in India and ancient Persia. It is commonly used in the Middle East, and has recently become a popular leisure pastime among young people in Western countries, especially school and college students [1,2,3,4]. The tobacco in HS is exposed to strong heat from burning charcoal, and the resultant smoke is equal to or even more toxic than CS [5]. Much less has been reported on HS [8], and there is a common and fallacious viewpoint among tobacco users that HS is safer than CS [9]
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