Nicotine does not affect vascularization but inhibits growth of freely transplanted ovarian follicles by inducing granulosa cell apoptosis

Abstract

Nicotine as one toxic component of cigarette smoke does not affect vascularization, but adversely influences follicular growth by an increase in apoptotic cell death. As follicular growth is a crucial step in normal ovulation and fertilization, nicotine-induced cell apoptosis may represent one of the mechanisms underlying the well-established link between smoking and fertility disorders.