Nicotine is the main toxic constituent in cigarettes and vitamin C is an important antioxidant agent. This study investigated the possible ameliorative effect of vitamin C on nicotine-induced histological and ultrastructure changes in zona fasciculata in rats. Sixty adult male albino rats were distributed into 3 groups (20 rats each): Group I, control group received subcutaneous injection of saline daily for 8 weeks. Group II nicotine-treated group, rats received subcutaneous injection of

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... ne (0.7 mg/kg body weight) daily for 8 weeks. Group III (nicotine+vitamin C group), rats received vitamin C (100 mg/kg body weight daily) through intragastric tube. Samples from adrenal cortex were prepared for light (hematoxylin & eosin and toluidine blue staining) and electron microscopic examination. Nicotine resulted in histopathological changes in zona fasciculata as cells had cytoplasmic degeneration with increased lipid contents, significant increase in total adrenal cortical thickness and zona fasciculate thickness. Nicotine induced ultrastructure changes in zona fasciculata cells and a significant increase in number and volume of lipid droplets, degenerated mitochondria, decreased the surface area of mitochondrial cristae, the volume of mitochondrial compartment and increased significantly the volume of lipid droplet compartment. These histopathological and ultrastructure changes in zona fasciculata cells due to nicotine exposure, were reduced by vitamin C supplementation. In conclusion, this study provided evidence that the harmful histological and ultrastructure changes of nicotine on zona fasciculata in rats were ameliorated by vitamin C intake. Ameliorative effect of vitamin C on nicotine-induced histological and ultrastructural changes in zona fasciculata in albino rats 121 Copyright: ©2018 Abdel-Hamid Citation: Abdel-Hamid GA. Ameliorative effect of vitamin C on nicotine-induced histological and ultrastructural changes in zona fasciculata in albino rats. Ameliorative effect of vitamin C on nicotine-induced histological and ultrastructural changes in zona fasciculata in albino rats 124 Copyright: ©2018 Abdel-Hamid Citation: Abdel-Hamid GA. Ameliorative effect of vitamin C on nicotine-induced histological and ultrastructural changes in zona fasciculata in albino rats.