Effect of Nicotine on Dopamine and Glutathione Levels in Presence of Oligoelements in Brain Regions of Young Rats* ——Effect of Nicotine on Brain Regions of Rat

Aim: The purpose of this study was to understand the mechanism of nicotine mediated addiction and the role of oli-goelements in reducing its effect. Methods: Male Wistar rats (weight 80 g) were treated with single and repeated doses of nicotine and/or oligoelements as follows: group 1 (control) NaCl 0.9%; group 2, nicotine (1 mg/kg); group 3, oli-goelements (50 µl/rat); and group 4, nicotine (1 mg/kg) + oligoelements (50 µl/rat). All drugs were intraperitoneally administered for 4 days. Blood for the measurement of glucose was obtained from all the animals. Samples of the brain regions (cortex, hemispheres and cerebellum + medulla oblongata) of each rat were obtained and used to measure the concentrations of dopamine, GSH levels, and lipid peroxidation (TBARS) using fluorescence and spectrophotometric methods. Results: Glucose level increased in rats treated with nicotine and oligoelements (p < 0.05), while GSH level decreased in cerebellum/medulla oblongata and hemispheres (p < 0.05) of the same animals. TBARS levels increased in cerebellum/medulla oblongata and hemispheres of animals treated with nicotine and oligoelements, but decreased in the same regions (p < 0.05) in rats treated only with oligoelements. The levels of dopamine decreased in cortex and hemi-spheres, but increased in cerebellum/medulla and oblongata regions of rats treated with both compounds (p < 0.05)