Lactational nicotine alters pancreatic histomorphology and carbohydrate metabolism in Wistar rats

Abstract

Methods: A total of thirty female rats were used in the experiment; they were grouped into three, Group A served as the control group and received 0.1 ml normal saline in the first 14 days of postnatal life, Groups B and C served as the treated groups and received 0.05 ml of nicotine on the first 7 and 14 days of postnatal life respectively. The rats were weighed before and during gestation; the pups were also weighed while lactating on days 1, 4, 7, 10 and 14 before sacrifice on day 15. Tissue processing was done using Haematoxylin & Eosin and Periodic-Acid Schiff staining methods.