Chronic exposure to e-cig aerosols during early development causes vascular dysfunction and offspring growth deficits

Abstract

Increasing popularity of electronic cigarettes (e-cigs), including among women of reproductive age, is attributed to its perceived safety compared to conventional tobacco. However, there is a major knowledge gap surrounding the effects of e-cig aerosols on pregnancy and fetal development. We aimed to evaluate the effects of vaping e-cigs during gestation on offspring growth and to asses if growth deficits are accompanied by altered maternal and fetal vascular hemodynamics. Sprague-Dawley dams were assigned to Pair-Fed Control, Pair-Fed Juice, or Juice +Nicotine groups, and then underwent either a prenatal or prenatal+postnatal exposure paradigm in a custom-engineered vaping system. Mass spectrometry identified major aerosolized constituents from e-cig vaping. The Juice+Nicotine group exhibited significantly decreased fetal weight and crown-rump length (↓46.56%, and ↓23.83%, respectively). Pre-and postnatal exposure to Juice+Nicotine resulted in decreased pup weight at postnatal day (PND) 4-10. Crown-rump length was decreased by 24.71% on PND 10. Blood flow in the Juice+Nicotine group was decreased in the maternal uterine and fetal umbilical circuits by 49.50% and 65.33%, respectively. We conclude that chronic exposure to e-cig aerosols containing nicotine during early development can have deleterious health effects on the exposed offspring. Vaping e-cigs containing nicotine during pregnancy leads to a reduction in offspring weight and crown-rump length, associated with a marked decrease in blood flow in both the maternal uterine and fetal umbilical circulation (a strong indicator of growth restriction). Thus, chronic exposure to e-cig aerosols containing nicotine can lead to potentially harmful developmental effects in early life.

Comparison of Protective Effects of Electroacupuncture at ST 36 and LU 5 on Pulmonary and Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenal Axis Changes in Perinatal Nicotine-Exposed Rats

“…Nicotine levels in the amniotic fluid can exceed maternal plasma levels by 88% [8,9]. Perinatal nicotine exposure is harmful to the health of the offspring in many aspects; it results in low birth weight, preterm delivery, stillbirth, neurobehavioral deficits, sudden infant death syndrome, and a range of neuroendocrine, craniofacial, and immune system abnormalities [10][11][12][13][14][15][16]. In addition to these problems, it is especially harmful to the developing respiratory system.…”

Electronic nicotine delivery systems and pregnancy: Recent research on perceptions, cessation, and toxicant delivery

“…A study by Nguyen et al () found that the offspring of mice exposed to ECIG aerosol had a variety of detrimental outcomes, both cognitive and epigenetic. Finally, a recent study of in vivo changes in mice found that ECIG exposure resulted in decreased fetal weight and length (Orzabal et al, ). For a more thorough description of the developmental toxicity of ECIGs, please see the accompanying article in this issue by Greene and Pisano.…”

“…There are many limitations to existing research, as described in a recent report by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS, ), such as a lack of dose–response studies in the animal literature, as well as the difficulty comparing nicotine exposure in animal studies to human exposure. In addition, research in human participants (i.e., cohort studies of pregnant women, case reports or other clinical studies) is nonexistent (NAS, ; Orzabal et al, ; Orzabal & Ramadoss, ). Further, among studies examining biobehavioral factors of ECIG use, most rely on self‐reported information for cigarette and ECIG use (cigarettes per day, frequency of use, nicotine concentration in ECIG liquid, etc.)…”

The Effects of E-Cigarette Vapor Components on the Morphology and Function of the Male and Female Reproductive Systems: A Systematic Review

“…The effects of chronic exposure to e-cigarette aerosols on early development was studied in a rat model, which was in fact the first study in an animal model [ 55 ]. In that experiment, timed-pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats and then their pups were exposed to the vapor of e-cigarettes without nicotine (pair-fed juice; the “juice” group) and with nicotine (juice + nicotine; the “nicotine” group).…”

“…The study indicated that chronic exposure to vapor containing nicotine during the early stages of prenatal life can exert harmful effects and can lead to a reduction in weight and crown–rump length in the exposed offspring. The growth restriction may be caused by a significant decrease in uterine artery and fetal umbilical cord artery blood flow in animals exposed to nicotine vapor [ 55 ].…”