Vitamins C and E alleviate the deleterious effects of electronic cigarettes on tongue muscles and nerves in rat model

Abstract Background This study evaluated the ultrastructural effects of electronic cigarettes’ (EC) exposure in rat lingual nerves and muscles and assessed the therapeutic roles of vitamins C, E, and their combination. Methods Forty adult male albino rats were allocated into 5 groups. Control: injec...

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Main Authors: Yasmine M. Tolba, Raghda A. Abou ayana, Dina A. Nagui
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:BMC Oral Health
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-025-06523-z
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author Yasmine M. Tolba
Raghda A. Abou ayana
Dina A. Nagui
author_facet Yasmine M. Tolba
Raghda A. Abou ayana
Dina A. Nagui
author_sort Yasmine M. Tolba
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background This study evaluated the ultrastructural effects of electronic cigarettes’ (EC) exposure in rat lingual nerves and muscles and assessed the therapeutic roles of vitamins C, E, and their combination. Methods Forty adult male albino rats were allocated into 5 groups. Control: injected saline intraperitoneally, EC group: injected EC-liquid containing nicotine at a dose of 0.75 mg/kg, EC + C group: injected with EC-liquid and then supplemented orally with vitamin C, EC + C group injected with EC-liquid and then supplemented orally with vitamin E, and EC + C&E group: injected with EC-liquid and then supplemented orally with a combination of both vitamins. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and oxidative stress biomarkers malondialdehyde (MDA), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were used to assess tissue damage and antioxidant effects. Results EC group showed disrupted myelin sheaths, abnormal mitochondria, elevated MDA, and reduced SOD activity, indicating oxidative damage. EC + C group showed muscular recovery but did not significantly improve oxidative markers (p > 0.05) when compared to EC group. EC + E and EC + C&E groups showed regular myelin sheaths, normal mitochondria, and significant improvements in MDA and SOD levels compared to the EC group (p < 0.01). Conclusions Vitamin E alone or combined with vitamin C effectively mitigates EC-induced oxidative stress and ultrastructural damage in muscular and nerve tissues. Vitamin C alone offers insufficient protection, mostly supporting muscular recovery without significantly improving nerve integrity or oxidative status.
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spelling doaj-art-913b2c16e18f480e87686c7483d3b0e22025-08-20T04:02:44ZengBMCBMC Oral Health1472-68312025-07-0125111410.1186/s12903-025-06523-zVitamins C and E alleviate the deleterious effects of electronic cigarettes on tongue muscles and nerves in rat modelYasmine M. Tolba0Raghda A. Abou ayana1Dina A. Nagui2Lecturer of Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, Alexandria UniversityLecturer of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria UniversityAssistant professor of Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, Alexandria UniversityAbstract Background This study evaluated the ultrastructural effects of electronic cigarettes’ (EC) exposure in rat lingual nerves and muscles and assessed the therapeutic roles of vitamins C, E, and their combination. Methods Forty adult male albino rats were allocated into 5 groups. Control: injected saline intraperitoneally, EC group: injected EC-liquid containing nicotine at a dose of 0.75 mg/kg, EC + C group: injected with EC-liquid and then supplemented orally with vitamin C, EC + C group injected with EC-liquid and then supplemented orally with vitamin E, and EC + C&E group: injected with EC-liquid and then supplemented orally with a combination of both vitamins. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and oxidative stress biomarkers malondialdehyde (MDA), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were used to assess tissue damage and antioxidant effects. Results EC group showed disrupted myelin sheaths, abnormal mitochondria, elevated MDA, and reduced SOD activity, indicating oxidative damage. EC + C group showed muscular recovery but did not significantly improve oxidative markers (p > 0.05) when compared to EC group. EC + E and EC + C&E groups showed regular myelin sheaths, normal mitochondria, and significant improvements in MDA and SOD levels compared to the EC group (p < 0.01). Conclusions Vitamin E alone or combined with vitamin C effectively mitigates EC-induced oxidative stress and ultrastructural damage in muscular and nerve tissues. Vitamin C alone offers insufficient protection, mostly supporting muscular recovery without significantly improving nerve integrity or oxidative status.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-025-06523-zTongueMusclesNervesElectronic cigarettesVitamin CVitamin E
spellingShingle Yasmine M. Tolba
Raghda A. Abou ayana
Dina A. Nagui
Vitamins C and E alleviate the deleterious effects of electronic cigarettes on tongue muscles and nerves in rat model
BMC Oral Health
Tongue
Muscles
Nerves
Electronic cigarettes
Vitamin C
Vitamin E
title Vitamins C and E alleviate the deleterious effects of electronic cigarettes on tongue muscles and nerves in rat model
title_full Vitamins C and E alleviate the deleterious effects of electronic cigarettes on tongue muscles and nerves in rat model
title_fullStr Vitamins C and E alleviate the deleterious effects of electronic cigarettes on tongue muscles and nerves in rat model
title_full_unstemmed Vitamins C and E alleviate the deleterious effects of electronic cigarettes on tongue muscles and nerves in rat model
title_short Vitamins C and E alleviate the deleterious effects of electronic cigarettes on tongue muscles and nerves in rat model
title_sort vitamins c and e alleviate the deleterious effects of electronic cigarettes on tongue muscles and nerves in rat model
topic Tongue
Muscles
Nerves
Electronic cigarettes
Vitamin C
Vitamin E
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-025-06523-z
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