| The purpose of this study was to identify the compounds in cigarette smoke that inhibit oviductal functioning. A successful strategy was devised to identify individual toxicants in the complex mixture of over 4,000 chemicals that comprises cigarette smoke. Several solid phase extraction cartridges retained greater than 80% of the inhibitory activity in mainstream smoke solutions, and gas-chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis identified pyridine, pyrazine, phenol, indole, and quinoline derivatives as major classes of compounds in the inhibitory fractions. Authentic standards were used in dose-response studies on the hamster oviduct, and lowest observable adverse effect levels (LOAELs) and efficacies were determined for each compound. Methyl and ethyl substituted pyridines and pyrazines had the highest potencies with LOAELs in the picomolar or nanomolar range. Indoles and quinolines inhibited oviductal functioning at femtomolar or picomolar doses. Several of the oviductal toxicants identified in this study were quantified in the smoke solutions from different cigarette brands in the following categories: research (University of KY 2R1 and 1R4F), traditional (Marlboro Red and Light, Kool, Camel Filtered and Unfiltered), and harm reduction (Advance, Omni, and Omni Light). The mainstream and sidestream smoke solutions from research, traditional, and harm reduction brand cigarettes were tested in the oviductal assays. The degree of inhibition in the oviductal assays was dependent upon cigarette type. |
