The Effects of Stress and Nicotine on Heart Histopathology Differ in Male and Female Sprague-Dawley and Long-Evans Rats
Abstract
The present experiment investigated the effects of nicotine for 14 days (0. 6. or 12 mg/kg/day) and immobilization stress on heart histopathology in 120 male and 120 female rats of two strains (Sprague-Dawley and Long-Evans). Both nicotine and stress affected heart tissue. including heart mass and wall thickness. These effects differed between males and females. Females ",'ere more sensitive than males to the effects of nicotine on heart histopathology. In contrast, males were more sensitive than females to the effects of stress. The effects of nicotine also differed between Sprague-Dawleys and Long-Evans. The hearts of Long-Evans rats were more affected by both nicotine and stress than were Sprague-Dawleys. These findings have important implications for understanding the cardiotoxic effects of both nicotine and stress and could be used to further elucidate the mechanisms by which stress and nicotine separately contribute to heart disease.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 08, 2001
- Accession Number
- AD1012395
Entities
People
- Brenda M. Elliott
Organizations
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences