open access

Vol 59, No 4 (2021)
Original paper
Submitted: 2021-07-23
Accepted: 2021-11-29
Published online: 2021-12-09
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Effect of e-cigarette flavoring agents on the neural retina of chick embryo: histological and gene expression study

Malak Alshareef1, Aziza Alrafiah2, Sara Abed1, Fatemah Basingab1, Aisha Alrofaidi1
·
Pubmed: 34897642
·
Folia Histochem Cytobiol 2021;59(4):245-258.
Affiliations
  1. Biological Sciences Department, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
  2. Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia

open access

Vol 59, No 4 (2021)
ORIGINAL PAPERS
Submitted: 2021-07-23
Accepted: 2021-11-29
Published online: 2021-12-09

Abstract

Background: An electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) is initially marketed as an assistant product to quit smoking or limit its use. However, recent studies suggest the opposite, describing it as a product that lacks adequate quality and user safety. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of e-cigarette flavoring agent (cinnamon flavor) on the neural retina development of chick embryos and apoptosis induction after the early and late apoptosis stages by quantitative detection of gene expression CASP-3 at both embryonic days E9 and E17.

Methods: Fertilized chicken eggs were divided into two groups: control and treatment, and each group included two embryonic days; E9 and E17. For each treatment stage, two dosages of the treatment were applied, 2% and 5%. The neural retinas were dissected from the sclera and retinal pigment epithelium for subsequent RNA extraction and histological examination.

Results: This study indicated that aerosol of the subtle cinnamon flavor e-liquid causes downregulated expression of CASP3 in neural retina development. In addition, the hematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-stained sections showed multiple structural changes in the retinal layers and evidence of apoptotic cell death.

Conclusion: Cell death was visible and abundant in E9, and E17 concludes that flavor vapor condensate treatment caused neuronal cell death. CASP-3 was downregulated, which indicates that cell death occurred independently of CASP-3.

Abstract

Background: An electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) is initially marketed as an assistant product to quit smoking or limit its use. However, recent studies suggest the opposite, describing it as a product that lacks adequate quality and user safety. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of e-cigarette flavoring agent (cinnamon flavor) on the neural retina development of chick embryos and apoptosis induction after the early and late apoptosis stages by quantitative detection of gene expression CASP-3 at both embryonic days E9 and E17.

Methods: Fertilized chicken eggs were divided into two groups: control and treatment, and each group included two embryonic days; E9 and E17. For each treatment stage, two dosages of the treatment were applied, 2% and 5%. The neural retinas were dissected from the sclera and retinal pigment epithelium for subsequent RNA extraction and histological examination.

Results: This study indicated that aerosol of the subtle cinnamon flavor e-liquid causes downregulated expression of CASP3 in neural retina development. In addition, the hematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-stained sections showed multiple structural changes in the retinal layers and evidence of apoptotic cell death.

Conclusion: Cell death was visible and abundant in E9, and E17 concludes that flavor vapor condensate treatment caused neuronal cell death. CASP-3 was downregulated, which indicates that cell death occurred independently of CASP-3.

Get Citation

Keywords

chick embryo; caspase-3 (CASP-3); electronic cigarette; histology; retinal development

About this article
Title

Effect of e-cigarette flavoring agents on the neural retina of chick embryo: histological and gene expression study

Journal

Folia Histochemica et Cytobiologica

Issue

Vol 59, No 4 (2021)

Article type

Original paper

Pages

245-258

Published online

2021-12-09

Page views

6424

Article views/downloads

557

DOI

10.5603/FHC.a2021.0028

Pubmed

34897642

Bibliographic record

Folia Histochem Cytobiol 2021;59(4):245-258.

Keywords

chick embryo
caspase-3 (CASP-3)
electronic cigarette
histology
retinal development

Authors

Malak Alshareef
Aziza Alrafiah
Sara Abed
Fatemah Basingab
Aisha Alrofaidi

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