IDENTIFICATION OF CIGARETTE-SMOKE COMPONENTS THAT ALTER FUNCTIONING OF HAMSTER (MESOCRICETUS-AURATUS) OVIDUCTS IN-VITRO

Previous studies have shown that solutions of mainstream and sidestrea m cigarette smoke decrease both ciliary beat frequency and oocyte cumu lus complex pick-up rate of hamster oviducts in vitro. The purpose of this study was to identify the component(s) in smoke that produces the se effects. Chemicals reported to be ciliotoxic in other systems were tested on hamster infundibula at various concentrations to determine w hether a dose-response inhibition of ciliary beat frequency occurred. In addition, the concentration of each test component was measured in mainstream and sidestream smoke solutions (whole, particulate, and gas phase). All test components (acrolein, formaldehyde, phenol, acetalde hyde, and potassium cyanide [KCN]) inhibited ciliary beat frequency in a dose-dependent manner. Inhibition of ciliary beat frequency was at least partially reversible for all test compounds except acrolein. The concentrations of acrolein, formaldehyde, and phenol that were requir ed to inhibit beat frequency were at least 3-50 times higher than thei r corresponding concentrations in smoke solutions. In contrast, cyanid e was present in all smoke solutions at concentrations sufficient to i nhibit ciliary beat frequency. Cilia on the outer surface of the infun dibulum function in picking up the oocyte cumulus complex. Oocyte cumu lus complex pick-up rate was measured in vitro at KCN concentrations s hown to inhibit ciliary beat frequency. Pick-up rate was likewise inhi bited by KCN and remained significantly depressed after washout of KCN . These data show that cyanide is a potent inhibitor of both ciliary b eat frequency and oocyte cumulus complex pick-up rate and that its con centration in smoke solutions is sufficiently high to explain the prev iously reported inhibition of these oviductal processes.