Inhalation of Sniper and Passive Smoking Disrupt Motor Activity and Spatial Memory in Female Wistar Rats

Abstract

Twenty-eight female Wistar rats were divided into four groups to study the effects of sniper and cigarette smoke on motor activity and spatial memory. Group A served as the control group, receiving only rat meal and water ad libitum. Group B was designated as a sniper-only group, and was given 100ml of sniper. Group C served as a cigarette-only group, and received two sticks of cigarette smoke. Group D was designated as the sniper + cigarette group, and they were given 100ml of sniper and two sticks of cigarette smoke at the same time. The experiment lasted 14 days, with each exposure lasting 10 minutes per day. Finally, each group's cerebellum, and hippocampus were removed for histological analysis. The results showed that the mean of the hanging wire test in the study animal decreased significantly (P<0.05), although the Morris water maze test had significantly (P<0.05) greater frequency. In all treatment groups, histological examination revealed symptoms of moderate neuronal degeneration in group D and a hypochromic appearance of the Nissl material. Finally, the results of this study uncovered that sniper and involuntary cigarette smoking has the power to impair females' long-term spatial memory and motor abilities of Wistar rats.