Abstract
Smoking is a risk factor for serious health problems and is associated with several changes in the tissues of the oral cavity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the collagen percentage, mast cells density, intensity of immunolabeled cells by anti-HIF-1α in the musculature lingual of rats exposed to secondhand smoke. Twenty-seven female Wistar albino rats were divided into three groups: rats not exposed to tobacco smoke inhalation (Control group) (n=7); rats exposed to smoke inhalation for 30 days (TAB 30) (n=10); and rats exposed to smoke inhalation for 45 days (TAB 45) (n=10). Subsequently, the animals were submitted to euthanasia and removal of the tongue for histological and immunohistochemistry processing and analysis. In the groups TAB 30 and TAB 45 there were a lower percentage of collagen, a higher density of mast cells and a greater intensity of anti-HIF-1α immunolabeled cells compared to Control group. There was also a positive and significant correlation between the percentage of collagen and mast cell density. There was not significative difference between TAB 30 e TAB 45 in any of the parameters evaluated. Therefore, the exposure of rats to secondhand smoke for 45 days causes decrease in perimysial collagen fibers, increase in the number of mast cells and increase in the immunolabeling for HIF-1α in lingual muscle cells. The present study was the first to evaluate the percentage of collagen, mast cell density and immunostaining for HIF-1α in rat tongues exposed to tobacco smoke.
Highlights
Smoking is the major modifiable risk factor associated with severe health problems such as cancer, cardiovascular disorders, respiratory diseases, infertility and one of the leading causes of preventable death (1).The act of smoking affects active smokers and affects people who are exposed to environmental smoke from cigarettes
Mean cotinine levels were significantly higher in the groups exposed to smoke than in the control group, and the to smoke inhalation for 45 days (TAB 45) group had higher cotinine levels when compared to the to smoke inhalation for 30 days (TAB 30) group (p
The decrease in weight gain in animals exposed to cigarette smoke may have been caused by the action of nicotine in the smoke that leads to reduced appetite and altered eating patterns, as already demonstrated in other studies (16)
Summary
Smoking is the major modifiable risk factor associated with severe health problems such as cancer, cardiovascular disorders, respiratory diseases, infertility and one of the leading causes of preventable death (1).The act of smoking affects active smokers and affects people who are exposed to environmental smoke from cigarettes. The environmental smoke of cigarettes is a mixture of gases and particles from the burning of tobacco in the act of smoking. The toxic substances of tobacco lead to the destruction of collagen fibers in the connective tissue (3), by increasing the expression of metalloproteinases (4). Connective tissue mast cells suffer from the action of tobacco toxic substances, such as acrolein, which promotes mast cell degranulation with a consequent inflammatory reaction (5). Tissue hypoxia, induced by smoking and exposure to tobacco smoke, can cause tissue damage (8). The hypoxia, in these cases, can be triggered by the action of nicotine, which stimulates the secretion of adrenocortical hormones that promote vascular contraction and reduction of local blood flow. Carbon monoxide contributes to the reduction in oxygen saturation (SpO2) and the formation of carboxyhemoglobin which contributes in tissue hypoxia (9)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call