| Summary: | Nicotine is a major alkaloid of tobacco, which
can increase free radical formation, leading to osteoporosis.
The effects of nicotine administration and cessation on
bone histomorphometry and biomarkers were studied in 28
Sprague–Dawley male rats. Rats aged 3 months and
weighing 250–300 g were divided into four groups: control
(C, normal saline for 4 months), nicotine for 2 months
(N2), nicotine for 4 months (N4), and nicotine cessation
(NC). The NC group was given nicotine for the first
2 months and then allowed to recover for the following
2 months without nicotine. Histomorphometric analysis
was done using an image analyzer. ELISA kits were used
to measure serum osteocalcin (bone formation marker) and
pyridinoline (PYD, bone resorption marker) levels at
month 0, month 2, and month 4. All test groups showed a
significant decrease in BV/TV, Ob.S/BS, dLS/BS, MAR,
BFR/BS, and osteocalcin levels and an increase in sLS/BS
and PYD levels compared to group C. No significant differences
were observed in all parameters measured among
the test groups, except for MAR and BFR/BS. In conclusion,
nicotine administration at a dose of 7 mg/kg for 2 and
4 months has detrimental effects on bone metabolism.
Nicotine administration at 7 mg/kg for 2 months is sufficient
to produce significant effects on bone histomorphometric
parameters and biomarkers. In addition, prolonging
the treatment for another 2 months did not show any significant
differences. Cessation of nicotine for 2 months did
not reverse the effects.
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