Assessment of oxidative stress markers and cellular damage in RAT organs under the influence of electronic cigarettes
Abstract
Problem. Electronic cigarettes have become increasingly popular among Ukrainian youth, with 19,6% of adolescents aged 13–15 and approximately 45% of young adults aged 18–29 using them. Studies indicate that e-cigarette liquids exhibit cytotoxic effects and generate toxic carbonyl compounds (formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, acrolein) and reactive oxygen species upon heating. Contact with metal heating elements also releases heavy metal ions (nickel, chromium, cadmium, lead), inducing oxidative damage to proteins, lipids, and DNA. Experimental rat models allow assessment of biochemical, morphological, and metabolic disturbances at the organ level, confirming the risk of systemic oxidative stress and tissue injury.
Aim. The study aimed to evaluate biochemical changes in rat tissues (heart, brain, kidneys, lungs, and liver) under exposure to e-cigarette aerosol through a comprehensive analysis of protein oxidative modification (OMP) products, lipid peroxidation measured by malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and the activity of cytolysis marker enzymes — γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Methods. A passive smoking model was implemented using 20 adult male Wistar rats (8–10 weeks old, 180–220 g), divided into experimental (n = 10) and control (n = 10) groups. Rats in the experimental group were exposed daily for 20 minutes to aerosol from an Elf Bar 1500 Ultra e-cigarette (China) at a rate of 100…
Read the paper
Related studies
- Tobacco and COPD: presenting the World Health Organization (WHO) Tobacco Knowledge Summary
- Comparative effects of e-cigarette smoking on periodontal status, salivary pH, and cotinine levels
- Association between exposure to environmental pollutants and increased oral health risks, a comprehensive review
- Influence of gestational window on offspring vascular health in rodents with in utero exposure to electronic cigarettes
- Natural products as kinase inhibitors in lung cancer: molecular mechanisms, therapeutic potential, and clinical trials
- Nicotine in electronic cigarettes
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.