A simplified device for exposing rats to cigarette smoke

Objective: This study aims to explore a simplified device for exposing rats to cigarette smoke. Methods: Twenty-four rats were randomized into the following four groups: Group A, B, C, and D, in which rats were exposed to the cigarette smoke produced by 5, 3, or 1 cigarette, respectively. The smoke concentration inside the device was measured with portable detectors and the cotinine level in the serum was measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. In addition, the WBCs and differential cell counts in BALF were performed with Wright-Giemsa staining, while NQO-1 and HO-1 in carotid arteries were detected by Western blot analysis. Results: The smoke concentration inside the device, as well as the cotinine in rats, significantly increased depending on the numbers of cigarettes between groups (P<0.01). The WBCs mainly for macrophages in BALF and oxidant stress index (NQO-1 and HO-1) increased with the increasing of cigarettes between groups (P<0.01). Conclusion: The present device could be used for exposing rats to cigarette smoke with a low cost and easy to perform. More importantly, it is easy to change the smoke concentration by only altering the numbers of cigarettes used at a time.