Waterpipe Tobacco Smoke Exposure during Lactation-Susceptibility of Reproductive Hormones and Oxidative Stress...

There is a growing evidence for the public health hazards associated with waterpipe tobacco smoking (WTS). While the adverse effects of WTS exposure during pregnancy on the offspring are widely reported, its impact during breastfeeding remains less understood. The effects of WTS exposure during lactation on the reproductive hormones and oxidative stress biomarkers of adult male progeny were examined. Lactating rats received either fresh air (controls) or mainstream WTS for 1 h twice/day from day 4 to day 21 of lactation. The offspring was then followed up until week 20. The data indicated that WTS exposure in the lactating animals reduced the levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), prolactin (P < 0.05), luteinizing hormone (LH) (P = 0.1146), and estradiol (P = 0.0773) in the blood in male progeny. While the activities of testicular superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and the levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and blood levels of testosterone (P >0.05) remained unaltered, the activity of catalase increased significantly indicating an increased oxidant load in the WTS exposed rats compared to the controls. WTS exposure during lactation impairs male reproductive hormonal profile, augments oxidative damage, and potentially affects male fertility in male offspring rats.