Cigarette smoke contains components that can kill the eggs

2001/09/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Osasuna

To reach this conclusion, the scientists started from the conclusions of two previous research. On the one hand, it was taken into account that the membrane surrounding it also dies when waiting eggs die, which 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.

These two ideas have now joined together to design new experiments. The hypothesis for the first experiment was that the aforementioned hydrocarbons set in motion apoptosis (cell procedure ‘beyond oneself’). The researchers discovered the two specific areas of hydrocarbon receptive DNA. United in these zones, hydrocarbons provoke a chain genetic reaction and the consequence is apoptosis. This portion of DNA is present in all cells, but only reaction is given in the eggs.

In the next step, the researchers treated mice eggs by eliminating 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 various areas of DNA. This research offers new ways to seek a method to combat the effect of tobacco.