Anthonio Research Publications (ARP): TOBACCO INDUCED RENAL FUNCTION ALTERATIONS IN WISTAR RATS: AN 8 WEEKS STUDY

International Journal of Herbs and Pharmacological Research IJHPR, 2013, 2(3): 29 – 35.

www.arpjournals.com

RESEARCH PAPER:

TOBACCO INDUCED RENAL FUNCTION ALTERATIONS IN WISTAR RATS: AN 8 WEEKS

STUDY

*1Okonkwo L.O., 2Dada F.L., 1Ugbor C.I., 3Nwadike I.G., 4Eze N.O., 4Ozougwu C.P.

Department of 1Medical Laboratory Science; 3Nursing Science; Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma-Nigeria. 2Chemical Pathology, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria. 4Chemical Pathology, Enugu State University Teachinh Hospital, Park-Lane, Enugu, Nigeria.

Corresponding author: i.lilysky2013@gmail.com

Received: 13th April, 2013 Accepted: 28th June, 2013 Published: 31st July, 2013

ABSTRACT

This study investigates the effect of tobacco snuff on renal function using Wistar rat as a model. It involved adult rats (n=42) weighing 150-300g. They were assigned into a control group (A; n=6) and test groups B (n=12), C (n=12) and D (n=12). The groups were further divided into subgroups (1, 2, 3 and 4) representing durations of 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks respectively. The test groups were fed varying doses of tobacco snuff (tobacco plus potash). At the end of every 2 weeks, three randomly selected rats were prepared for blood sample collection into lithium heparin containers for laboratory analysis of creatinine, urea and uric acid. Results showed that creatinine levels of the test rats were higher than the control, but the recorded values were however, duration dependent. Interestingly, a similar but irregular pattern was observed for urea and uric acid levels. Over all, the significant increase (P<0.05) in renal function parameters of the test rats (as compared to the control values), suggests that the ingestion of tobacco snuff has harmful effects on kidney functions.

Keywords: Tobacco, Snuff, Kidney function, Nicotine substitute.

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INTRODUCTION

In the world today, the use of smokeless tobacco is quite popular in the Far East, Middle East, and Europe (Bates et al., 2003), with a rising trend in the United States of America (USA) (Changrani and Gany, 2005). In Nigeria however, the powdered form called ‘tobacco snuff’, has potash added to it to serve as additive. It is either inhaled (sniffed) through the nose or applied orally (Ureme et al., 2007). According to Aduema et al. (2012), it comes in two different forms- ‘Tobacco snuff’ and ‘Chewing tobacco’. Despite the awareness, that absorption of tobacco snuff is sometimes considered inefficient to provide an adequate nicotine substitute (Armitage et al., 1978; Turner et al., 1985), some have advocated its use as nicotine substitute for cigarette, since it is supposedly devoid of hazardous elements like tar and carbon monoxide (Russel et al., 1980).

Unfortunately, chronic absorption of nicotine from smokeless tobacco results in nicotine addiction (Hatsukami et al., 2004; Hatsukami and Severson, 1999 and PHS, 1998). Of greater concern however, is the fact that several scientific studies have reported that the phytochemical constituents of tobacco snuff is carcinogenic (IARC, 1985; Hecht et al., 1986; PHS, 1986; Brunnemann and Hoffmann, 1992; NCI, 1992; Hoffmann and Djordjevic, 1997 and IARC, 2007). According to Jorenby et al. (1998), the precise health effects of smokeless tobacco are uncertain but are not necessarily limited to oral cancers. Generally, smokeless tobacco has been associated with periodontal disease (Ernster et al., 1990; Fisher et al., 2005), precancerous oral lesions (Mattson and Winn, 1989), oral cancer (Stockwell 1986), and cancer of the kidney