Impact of Electronic Cigarette Exposure on the Testes of Adult Male Albino Rat and the Role of Cessation: Histopathological and Biochemical study

Abdel-Kareem, Reham H.; Deraz, Raghda H.; Refaay, Nehal E.

doi:10.21608/zumj.2022.129043.2533

Impact of Electronic Cigarette Exposure on the Testes of Adult Male Albino Rat and the Role of Cessation: Histopathological and Biochemical study

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Human Anatomy & Embryology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Egypt.

² Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology Department

10.21608/zumj.2022.129043.2533

Abstract

Background: Electronic cigarettes (E-cigs) are proposed as almost risk-free efforts to quit smoking despite limited data on their effects on human health especially reproductive function. Objective: Our study aimed to detect impact of E-cigs on testes of adult male albino rats and the recovering value of its withdrawal. Methods: 30 rats were divided equally into 3 groups; Control (C) group was exposed only to room air, E-cigs-exposed (Ec) group rats were exposed to 1 ml/day of burnt E-cigs liquid for 5 consecutive days/week for 4 weeks, and withdrawal (W) group in which rats were exposed to 1 ml /day of burnt E-cigs liquid for 5 consecutive days for 4 weeks and then left without exposure for the following 4 weeks. Results: E-cigs exposure caused reduction of serum testosterone level, testicular SOD, LDH, 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, VEGF and antiapoptotic marker Bcl2 with increase of testicular MDA, TNF-α, proapoptotic marker Bax, and Bax/Bcl2 ratio. Moreover, there was a disturbance of the testicular histological architecture in the form of spermatogenic cells’ vacuolation, pyknosis and karyolysis, few sperm bundle, thickened congested blood vessels, thickened basement membrane, and strong positive immunoreactivity for Caspase 3. Cessation of E-cigs exposure was accompanied by an improvement in biochemical and histological outcomes but they did not return totally to the normal values which reflected the alarming health hazard of vaping and the need for a longer duration to recover from their toxic insults, especially on the gonadal functions. Conclusions: E-cigs cannot be considered a healthy alternative to classical tobacco smoking.

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