Related Experiment Videos
Effect of nicotine on large bowel mucus thickness, eicosanoids and faecal proteinase in ferrets
G A Thomas1, R D Pullan, F J Zijlstra
1Department of Gastroenterology, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, UK.
Background:
Following observations on the effect of subcutaneous nicotine on rectal mucosal eicosanoids and mucus in the rabbit we have repeated the work in ferrets which may be a more suitable animal model.
Aims And Methods:
The effect of nicotine on mucosal eicosanoids, the adherent mucus layer, and faecal proteinases in the large bowel of ferrets was examined in forty animals randomly allocated to five groups, a control and four treatment groups. They were given subcutaneous saline or nicotine via an Alzet pump in doses of 0.3, 0.6, 1.2 and 2.0 mg/kg/day for 10 days and then sacrificed; measurements were made of serum nicotine and cotinine levels, rectal mucosal eicosanoids, adherent rectal and colonic mucus thickness, and faecal proteinases.
Results:
No significant differences were observed for any measurements, except for serum nicotine and cotinine levels, which were raised consistent with the dose given.
Conclusion:
Nicotine had no effect on measurements, which may possibly be important in the relationship between smoking and ulcerative colitis.