Smoking Risks

Scientists have always known that cigarette smoke contains a number of proven mutagenic agents and carcinogens. Likewise, numerous studies have shown that smoking (as well as alcohol consumption) can cause damage to a pregnant woman's fetus. With respect to men, however, although there is research that shows that smoking may impair the production and quality of sperm, no direct evidence has ever been produced to substantiate whether these fertilizing cells can carry distorted genetic material.

Now a research team from McMaster University and Health Canada may have finally found an answer. In a study published in the June 1st issue of the journal Cancer Research, Dr. Carole Yauk and associates looked at male germline mutations by examining the DNA in sperm cells of mice that had been subjected to significant levels of cigarette smoke.

The researchers specifically evaluated a region of DNA, designated as Ms6-hm, in the spermatogonia (sperm cell-precursors) of mice that had been exposed to cigarette smoke for periods of 6 or 12 weeks. This region of DNA was purposely selected because it has been previously shown to be sensitive to damage from several environmental agents such as radiation, chemicals, and industrial particulate pollutants.

Investigators exposed mice to a quantity of smoke corresponding to 2 cigarettes per day. Previous work has shown that this would be the equivalent of achieving the same level of tobacco chemical byproducts that would be found in the blood of an average human smoker.

When the researchers evaluated the quantity of DNA mutations in mice exposed to cigarette smoke over six weeks, the found a 40% higher rate of DNA mutations as compared to non-smoke-exposed mice. Almost predictably, the rate of mutations increased to 70% after the mice had been exposed to cigarette smoke for a total of 12 weeks. This suggested that DNA mutations can increase cumulatively in cells after continuous exposure to cigarette smoke.

Sins of The Father

Now for the first time, researchers have shown through the use of an animal model, that smoke inhalation can actually alter a progenitor's sperm DNA, and therefore have the potential to propagate mutations and altered genes to subsequent descendents.

More research will have to bear out if the insults of smoking can be directly demonstrated from one generation to another. Future plans by this research group include looking at the same DNA regions in the subsequent progeny of mice exposed to direct cigarette smoke. This will unequivocally confirm the vertical propagation of mutations. Moreover, female mice will also be evaluated to assess the sensitivity of eggs to various doses of cigarette smoke.

As father's day approaches, it would be prudent to encourage men that smoke, and who are planning to have children, to consider their smoking habits before they risk passing permanent and potentially dangerous genetic changes to their children and their future generations. Unfortunately, several surveys indicate that approximately 50% of all pregnancies are not planned and perhaps this warning should be extended to all men of reproductive age who have the capacity to impregnate their sexual partners.

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