TY - JOUR
T1 - Switching from tobacco cigarettes in very early pregnancy
T2 - The effects of in utero e-cigarette exposure on mouse offspring neurodevelopment and behaviour
AU - Bakker, Chloe
AU - Chivers, Emily
AU - Chia, Xian-Wen
AU - Quintrell, Ebony
AU - Wyrwoll, Caitlin
AU - Larcombe, Alexander
N1 - Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
PY - 2023/5/1
Y1 - 2023/5/1
N2 - INTRODUCTION: Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are often perceived to be safer than smoking, which has led to some women switching to e-cigarettes during pregnancy. However, the effects of switching from smoking to e-cigarettes on both pregnancy outcomes and the foetus are largely unknown. This study aimed to investigate the effects of switching from tobacco smoking to e-cigarette use in very early pregnancy on birth outcomes, neurodevelopment and behaviour of the offspring.METHODS: Female BALB/c mice were exposed to cigarette smoke for up to two weeks before being mated. Mated dams were then allocated to one of four treatment groups: (i) continued exposure to cigarette smoke (ii) exposure to e-cigarette aerosol with nicotine, (iii) or without nicotine, or (iv) medical air. Pregnant mice were exposed for 2 h per day for the duration of pregnancy. Gestational outcomes including litter size and sex ratio were assessed, in addition to early-life markers of physical- and neuro- development. At 8 weeks of age, motor coordination, anxiety, locomotion, memory and learning of the adult offspring were assessed.RESULTS: Gestational outcomes and early markers of physical- and neuro- development were unaffected by in utero exposure, as well as locomotion, anxiety-like behaviour, and object recognition memory during adulthood. However, both e-cigarette groups displayed increased spatial recognition memory compared to air exposed controls. Maternal exposure to nicotine containing e-cigarette aerosol was found to increase offspring bodyweight and impair motor skill learning.CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest there may be some benefits as well as negative effects of switching to e-cigarettes in early pregnancy.
AB - INTRODUCTION: Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are often perceived to be safer than smoking, which has led to some women switching to e-cigarettes during pregnancy. However, the effects of switching from smoking to e-cigarettes on both pregnancy outcomes and the foetus are largely unknown. This study aimed to investigate the effects of switching from tobacco smoking to e-cigarette use in very early pregnancy on birth outcomes, neurodevelopment and behaviour of the offspring.METHODS: Female BALB/c mice were exposed to cigarette smoke for up to two weeks before being mated. Mated dams were then allocated to one of four treatment groups: (i) continued exposure to cigarette smoke (ii) exposure to e-cigarette aerosol with nicotine, (iii) or without nicotine, or (iv) medical air. Pregnant mice were exposed for 2 h per day for the duration of pregnancy. Gestational outcomes including litter size and sex ratio were assessed, in addition to early-life markers of physical- and neuro- development. At 8 weeks of age, motor coordination, anxiety, locomotion, memory and learning of the adult offspring were assessed.RESULTS: Gestational outcomes and early markers of physical- and neuro- development were unaffected by in utero exposure, as well as locomotion, anxiety-like behaviour, and object recognition memory during adulthood. However, both e-cigarette groups displayed increased spatial recognition memory compared to air exposed controls. Maternal exposure to nicotine containing e-cigarette aerosol was found to increase offspring bodyweight and impair motor skill learning.CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest there may be some benefits as well as negative effects of switching to e-cigarettes in early pregnancy.
KW - Electronic Cigarettes
KW - Neurobiology
KW - Prenatal exposure
KW - Tobacco related disease
KW - Behavioural
U2 - 10.1016/j.physbeh.2023.114118
DO - 10.1016/j.physbeh.2023.114118
M3 - Article
C2 - 36796533
SN - 0031-9384
VL - 263
SP - 114118
JO - Physiology & Behavior
JF - Physiology & Behavior
M1 - 114118
ER -