Background: Tobacco smoking has been identified as an important factor in
premature skin aging.
Aim of the work: to detect the histological changes occurred in adult male guinea pig
thin skin under the influence of low and high doses of nicotine; which constitutes
approximately 0.6–3.0% of the dry weight of tobacco.
Material &methods: Fifteen adult male pigmented guinea pigs were equally divided
into three groups. Group I: control. Group IIA: (low dose nicotine treated; 3mg/kg
subcutaneously for 4 weeks). Group IIB (high dose nicotine treated; 6mg/kg
subcutaneously for 4 weeks). Specimens from the back thin skin were processed for
light and electron microscopy.
Results: Nicotine administration revealed flattened dermo-epidermal junction and
reduced rete ridges formation. Collagen bundles were disorganized with increased
spaces between them. A reduction in the amount of elastic fibers in the dermis were
also observed compared to group I. Ultrastructurally, keratinocytes had
hyperchromatic nuclei, intracytoplasmic vacuoles, disruption of desmosomal
junctions, irregular tonofilaments distribution, increased inter-cellular spaces. These
changes were more pronounced with high dose nicotine administration. The
epidermal thickness was reduced in low dose nicotine administration. While, high
dose nicotine administration revealed increased epidermal thickness compared to the
control group.
Conclusion: Nicotine induced structural changes of adult male guinea pig thin skin.
These changes were more pronounced with high dose nicotine administration.