Authors

Abstract

Background: Nicotine is one of the ingredients in cigarettes. Nicotine is toxic to the brain, cardiovascular system and respiratory tract and the body tissues. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of nicotine on the enzymes alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), glucose, and insulin lipid profile in diabetic rats.
Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 50 Wistar adult male rats weighing 220-250 g were used and divided into five groups of 10, including control (no treatment), diabetic control, and experimental (diabetic mice) groups 1, 2 and 3 that treated with 0.125, 0.25 and 0.5 mg/kg nicotine, respectively. In this study, diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of 60 mg/kg of streptozotocin (STZ). At the end of the treatment period, blood samples were taken from mice and serum enzymes AST, ALP, ALT; and LDL, HDL, cholesterol, triglycerides, insulin and glucose levels were measured. Data analyses were performed in SPSS software 18, using ANOVA and Tukey test.
Results: The results showed a significant increase in the concentration of enzymes ALT, AST and ALP; and glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride and LDL levels; but a significant decrease in HDL level in the experimental group compared with the control group.
Conclusion: Nicotine increases the complications of diabetes, such as increase in glucose, lipids and liver enzymes ALP, AST and ALT.

Keywords