Figure 3

Ricin-mediated liver (A) and kidney (B and C) damage is reduced by nicotine treatment. Exposure of mice to ricin (50 µg/kg) for 14 h resulted in increased serum levels of ALT (A), BUN (B), and creatine (Cre) (C), demonstrating significant liver and kidney dysfunction, effects attenuated by nicotine treatment. Nicotine alone had no effect on serum levels of ALT, BUN or Cre. Results are mean ± SEM (n = 10), *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01 versus vehicle-treated mice, ^†P < 0.05, ^††P < 0.01 versus ricin-treated mice.