THE CATARACTOGENIC EFFECT OF NICOTINE AND THE POSSIBLE PROTECTIVE ROLE OF CURCUMIN

The aim of the present investigation was to study the ophthalmological, histological and biochemical changes after intraperitoneal injection of nicotine for eight weeks. The possible protective role of curcumin was also evaluated. The study was<br>conducted on male albino rats (Wister strain). Three groups were included, the first group served as control, second group was injected with nicotine 2.5mg/Kg body weight (in physiological saline) for 8 weeks and the third group was administrated nicotine as in group 2 as well as curcumin 80 mg/kg body wt. Nicotine resulted in cataractous changes<br>in the form of thickened capsule, flattening epithelial cells as well as vacuolar changes and fissuring of the fibers.本研究旨在探究持续8周腹腔注射（intraperitoneal injection）尼古丁（nicotine）后所引发的眼科、组织学及生化改变，并同时评估姜黄素（curcumin）可能发挥的保护作用。 本实验以雄性白化Wister品系大鼠为研究对象，共设置三组：第一组为空白对照组；第二组以2.5mg/kg体重的尼古丁（溶于生理盐水（physiological saline））腹腔注射，持续8周；第三组采用与第二组一致的尼古丁给药方案，同时辅以80mg/kg体重的姜黄素。 尼古丁可引发白内障样改变（cataractous changes），具体表现为晶状体囊膜增厚、上皮细胞扁平，同时出现空泡样变及晶状体纤维裂隙。