Effect of Various Doses of Nicotine on Mitotic Index in Esophageal Mucosa

Introduction & Nicotine could directly act as a cancer promoter. The purpose of this study was to evaluate effects of nicotine on mitotic index in esophagus epithelium.
In the present study 30 adult male mice were used. Animals were randomly divided into three groups. Group A or the control group received vehicle, groups B and C received nicotine intraperitoneally at doses of 0.2 and 0.4 mg/kg once daily for 14 days, respectively. Evaluations were made using kI-67 immunohistochemistry and Hematoxilin& Eosin for proliferative activity and morphometric study on esophagus mucosa, respectively.
Administration of nicotine in group C, showed a significant increase (P This study indicates nicotine at dose of 0.4 mg/kg increases mitotic activity in basal cells in esophagus epithelium.