Key result
Subchronic secondhand tobacco smoke exposure in rats altered circadian blood pressure patterns, increased arterial stiffness, and increased oxidative stress without structural arterial wall changes.
In a rat model, secondhand tobacco smoke exposure alters circadian blood pressure patterns and increases arterial stiffness, likely driven by oxidative stress and lung inflammation.
No immediate clinical implications for secondhand smoke; leaves open whether rat vascular and BP changes translate to humans.
Chronic smoking and secondhand tobacco smoke exposure are major risk factors for cardiovascular disease that are known to adversely alter the structural and mechanical properties of arteries. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of subchronic secondhand tobacco smoke exposure on circadian blood pressure patterns, arterial stiffness, and possible sources of oxidative stress in conscious, unsedated radiotelemetry-implanted rats. Pulse wave change in pressure over time (dP/dt) was used an indicator of arterial stiffness and was compared with both structural (wall thickness) and functional (nitric oxide production and bioactivity and endothelin-1 levels) features of the arterial wall. In addition, histology of lung, heart, and liver was examined as well as pulmonary and hepatic detoxifying enzyme activity (cytochrome P450, specifically CYP1A1). Subchronic secondhand tobacco smoke exposure altered the circadian pattern of heart rate and blood pressure, with a loss in the normal dipping pattern of blood pressure during sleep. Secondhand tobacco smoke exposure also increased pulse wave dP/dt in the absence of any structural modifications in the arterial wall. Furthermore, although nitric oxide production and endothelin-1 levels were not altered by secondhand tobacco smoke, there was increased inactivation of nitric oxide as indicated by peroxynitrite production. Increased lung neutrophils or pulmonary CYP1A1 may be responsible for the increase in oxidative stress in rats exposed to secondhand tobacco smoke. In turn, this may be related to the observed failure of blood pressure to dip during periods of sleep and a possible increase in arterial stiffness.
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Gentner et al. (2011) studied Cardiovascular effects of secondhand smoke. Secondhand tobacco smoke exposure was evaluated on Circadian blood pressure patterns, arterial stiffness, and oxidative stress. Subchronic secondhand tobacco smoke exposure in rats altered circadian blood pressure patterns, increased arterial stiffness, and increased oxidative stress without structural arterial wall changes.
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