Journals Proceedings

Abstract

Background: The use of tobacco has been linked with a higher mortality rate. Smokeless tobacco also contains higher quantities of nicotine. Low fertility rates & adverse reproductive outcomes are associated with tobacco use. An effort is made to evaluate the effects produced by the locally available brand of smokeless tobacco on the granulosa cells of the ovaries of the female Swiss albino rats. Material and methods: 30 adult female Swiss albino rats were randomly selected. They were equally divided into three groups. Group A were taken as control. Group B&C consisted of experimental groups which were given 5 %& 10% of locally available brand of smokeless tobacco in their feed. The feed and water were given ad libitum. On 31st day, animals were sacrificed and their ovaries were removed. The specimens were processed for the purpose of light microscopy using H & E and trichrome stains. Results: Ovaries of both B & C groups showed significant increase in the number of cystic follicles, apoptotic cell death and necrosis in the granulosa cells (P value ≤ 0.001). Conclusion: This study concluded that the smokeless form of tobacco causes adverse effects on the granulosa cells of the ovaries of the female Swiss albino rats.