The Effect of Chronic Consumption of Nicotiana tabacum (snuff) on the Spleen of Adult Male Wistar Rats

Abstract

Nicotiana tabacum (snuff) is a widely consumed plant all over the world. It is the scientific name of tobacco plant. Its effect on the oral cavity, liver and kidney has been widely studied. This study was undertaken to assess the effect of its chronic consumption on the spleen. Twenty Wistar rats weighing between 170-202g were used for the study. They were divided into four groups, A, B, C and D of 5 rats each. Group A, the control, received normal feed, water and groups B, C and D received normal feed, water and snuff through oral route at different doses of 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8mls respectively of snuff for six weeks. The rats were sacrificed at the end of six weeks by cervical dislocation and the spleen was dissected out and preserved in 10% neutral formal saline. It was processed using routine histological procedures and stained with haematoxylin and eosin (H & E) stains. While the control the control group showed normal cytoarchitecture of the spleen, groups B and C showed varying degrees of hyperplasia of the splenic nodules. Group D displayed distortion of splenic architecture and degeneration of the lymphocytes. These results indicate that the chronic consumption of the N. tabacum may alter the function of the spleen thereby resulting in altered immune function.