Mice Who Smoke

Posted by Chris Christian May 28, 2008

Ok I have information concerning a study conducted on mice who smoke. The study revealed smoking lengthens healing time of surgically repaired ligaments.

Back to the mice, they didn’t actually sit down and have a cigarette; they were put inside of a chamber that emits smoke that they inhaled. This was done 6 days per week, for 2 month before surgery was performed and then again after surgery to mimic people who smoked.

Seems the smoking affected the cell density and in gene activity to produce type I collagen. Normally after damage and repair of a ligament blood pools near the site causing inflammation, it is at this point that cells called macrophages flock to the injury site and secrete substances called cytokines and chemokines. Those, in turn, recruit more cells to assist in healing. This process of cellular proliferation and synthesis lasts for several days to several weeks. The final stage of healing involves remodeling of the tissue and can continue for months and even years.

Researchers noted that the smoker mice produced a lower cell density and their type I collagen gene expression was also reduced. Studies have shown this decreased macrophage response may explain why there is a delayed or decreased healing response.

With 20 to 25 percent of Americans smoking and over 20 million reported ligament injuries per year among athletes and non-athletes (torn MCL is the most common ligament injury),smoking affects anyone who needs ligament-repair surgery.Dr. Rick W. Wright and Dr. Linda J. Sandell, who conducted the study,counsel surgery patients to at least try to decrease smoking because, if nothing else, that will improve the healing of their surgical incisions. “Quitting smoking is good health management regardless, but in patients having this kind of surgery, there are extra advantages," they said.