Effect of nicotine on glycosaminoglycan metabolism in rats

Cigarette smoking has been established as a major risk factor for atherosclerosis and also for lung cancer. Nicotine is one of the major components of cigarette smoke which is believed to be partly responsible for the deleterious effect of cigarette smoke. There was significant alteration in the concentration of glycosaminoglycans (GAG) in rats exposed to cigarette smoke. Administration of nicotine to rats has been found to decrease many of GAG fractions in the aorta, liver and heart and increase in the lungs. The increase in GAG now observed in lung tissue in rats administered nicotine and those exposed to cigarette smoke may be involved in the increased incidence of lung cancer in smokers. Increased activity of many of GAG hydrolysing enzymes indicates increased degradation of GAG. Sulphate metabolism in the liver is also significantly altered by nicotine. Thus administration of nicotine to rats caused alteration in the metabolism of GAG which are similar to those observed on exposure of rats to cigarette smoke, indicating that nicotine content of the tobacco smoke may partly be responsible for the effect on GAG observed on exposure to cigarette smoke.