EFFECTS OF EXPOSURE TO CIGARETTE-SMOKE ON INTESTINAL PROPULSION IN RATS

The effects of acute exposure to cigarette smoke and systemic administ ration of nicotine on intestinal propulsion were investigated in rats. The propulsive activity was measured as migration of charcoal powder in the intestine. This activity was suppressed by acute exposure (10 m in) to cigarette smoke and by nicotine (0.5 mg/kg X 2, s. c.) administ ration. This intestinal suppression was more marked in the rats given nicotine than in those exposed to cigarette smoke, whereas the plasma concentrations of nicotine in both rats were similar. These results su ggest that acute exposure to cigarette smoke and nicotine administrati on delay gastric emptying and/or suppress intestinal propulsion, and t hat some components other than nicotine contained in cigarette smoke m ay attenuate the suppression of intestinal propulsion induced by nicot ine.