Abstract
Aim: The purpose of this study was to understand the mechanism of nicotine mediated addiction and the role of oligoelements in reducing its effect. Methods: Male Wistar rats (weight 80 g) were treated with single and repeated doses of nicotine and/or oligoelements as follows: group 1 (control) NaCl 0.9%; group 2, nicotine (1 mg/kg); group 3, oligoelements (50 μl/rat); and group 4, nicotine (1 mg/kg) + oligoelements (50 μl/rat). All drugs were intraperitoneally administered for 4 days. Blood for the measurement of glucose was obtained from all the animals. Samples of the brain regions (cortex, hemispheres and cerebellum + medulla oblongata) of each rat were obtained and used to measure the concentrations of dopamine, GSH levels, and lipid peroxidation (TBARS) using fluorescence and spectrophotometric methods. Results: Glucose level increased in rats treated with nicotine and oligoelements (p < 0.05), while GSH level decreased in cerebellum/medulla oblongata and hemispheres (p < 0.05) of the same animals. TBARS levels increased in cerebellum/medulla oblongata and hemispheres of animals treated with nicotine and oligoelements, but decreased in the same regions (p < 0.05) in rats treated only with oligoelements. The levels of dopamine decreased in cortex and hemispheres, but increased in cerebellum/medulla and oblongata regions of rats treated with both compounds (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Nicotine and oligoelements are associated with increase in the level of glucose, an effect that was more pronounced in the group treated with both drugs. Reduction of oxidative stress and dopamine metabolism may be involved in this effect.
Highlights
In Mexico, drug addictions in adolescents (53.5% in men and 63.2% in women) begin with tobacco
Glucose level increased in rats treated with nicotine and oligoelements (p < 0.05), while GSH level decreased in cerebellum/medulla oblongata and hemispheres (p < 0.05) of the same animals
thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) levels increased in cerebellum/medulla oblongata and hemispheres of animals treated with nicotine and oligoelements, but decreased in the same regions (p < 0.05) in rats treated only with oligoelements
Summary
In Mexico, drug addictions in adolescents (53.5% in men and 63.2% in women) begin with tobacco. In our country, smoking usually begins in mid-adolescence (15 years old) and smokers between 18 and 65 years old represent 20.6% of the population [1], a figure which is presently with an increasing tendency. Nicotine is an alkaloid found in tobacco plant (Nicotiana tabacum). Nicotine has stimulating effect and constitutes one of the principal causes of tobacco addiction. Majority of cigarettes in the world contain between 1 and 2 mg or more of nicotine. A smoker usually inhales 0.8 mg of nicotine per cigarette [2]
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