PHYSIOLOGICAL AND HISTOLOGICAL IMPACT OF E-CIGARETTE VERSUS CONVENTIONAL SMOKING: A STUDY ON ALBINO MICE

Abstract

The increasing adoption of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) as alternatives to conventional tobacco products has raised concerns about their systemic health consequences. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the physiological and histopathological effects of e-cigarette (T1) and conventional cigarette (T2) exposure in albino mice. Adult mice were divided into a control group and two experimental groups (T1 and T2) and subjected to nine weeks of exposure. Hematological, metabolic, and hormonal parameters were assessed alongside histological changes.

Results indicated reduced hemoglobin levels in both treated groups (6.67 ± 0.356 in T1 and 5.982 ± 0.059 in T2 vs. 6.81 ± 0.09 in controls). White blood cell and platelet counts were significantly higher in the T1 group compared to both control and T2 groups. Testosterone levels increased in T2, while glucose levels rose in both groups, with a greater elevation in T1. Estrogen levels showed divergent responses, increasing in T1 but decreasing in T2. Histological examinations revealed pathological alterations in the myocardium, kidneys (glomerulosclerosis), liver (hepatocellular ballooning), and lungs (emphysematous changes), with more severe structural damage observed in the T2 group. Both exposures also led to progressive weight loss, more pronounced in male mice.

Overall, the findings demonstrate that both e-cigarettes and conventional cigarettes exert adverse systemic effects; however, e-cigarettes appear to cause greater disruption of immune responses and hormonal balance, while conventional cigarettes induce more extensive structural damage. These results underscore the need for careful evaluation of the long-term health risks associated with e-cigarette use.