Eggs and tobacco

2001/07/17 Roa Zubia, Guillermo - Elhuyar Zientzia

• Osasuna
• Medikuntza

The warning is written in the tobacco package: tobacco can cause a loss of fertility in women and early menopause. Now, scientists have analyzed the mechanism of interaction between components and eggs found in tobacco smoke.

The scientists started from the conclusions of two previous investigations. On the one hand, a few years ago a study found: When eggs die on hold, the surrounding membrane also dies. This membrane synthesizes estrogens and other hormones essential for fertility. On the other hand, another study reveals that polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (some components of tobacco smoke) kill mice eggs.

Now, this group has joined these two ideas to design new experiments. The hypothesis for the first experiment was that the aforementioned hydrocarbons launch apoptosis (cell procedure ‘beyond oneself’). The researchers discovered the two specific areas of receptive hydrocarbon DNA. United in these areas, hydrocarbons cause a genetic chain reaction, which results in apoptosis. This portion of DNA is present in all cells, but only reaction occurs in the eggs.

In the next step, researchers treated mouse eggs by removing both parts of DNA and treating them with hydrocarbons. These eggs did not die. Finally, researchers have tested this behavior in women, obtaining the same conclusion as the previous experiment.

Therefore, the interaction between polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and eggs is very specific, as it depends on different areas of DNA. This research offers new ways to look for a method to combat the effect of tobacco.