Maternal electronic cigarette use during pregnancy affects long-term arterial function in offspring

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Science
• Developmental Biology
• Toxicology

Background:

• Electronic cigarette (ecig) use is common in pregnant women.
• Perinatal exposure to maternal vaping may negatively impact offspring cardiovascular development.
• Nicotine-free e-liquids may still pose risks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the long-term effects of perinatal maternal vaping on offspring cardiovascular health.
• To determine if nicotine-free ecig aerosol exposure causes lasting vascular dysfunction.
• To test the hypothesis of dose-dependent and persistent adverse effects.

Main Methods:

• Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to nicotine-free or nicotine-containing ecig aerosol from gestational day 2 to postnatal day 21.
• Offspring vascular function (stiffness, reactivity) and structure were assessed at 3 and 7 months of age.
• Pulse wave velocity and wire myography were used to evaluate conduit artery function.

Main Results:

• Offspring exposed to ecig aerosol (with or without nicotine) exhibited significantly higher pulse wave velocity at 3 months.
• Impaired aortic relaxation was observed in all ecig-exposed offspring groups.
• Vascular dysfunction and structural changes persisted into adulthood (7 months).

Conclusions:

• Maternal vaping during pregnancy, regardless of nicotine content, induces persistent maladaptations in offspring vascular development.
• Developmental exposure to electronic cigarette aerosol adversely affects both conduit and resistance vessels.
• Reactive oxygen species are implicated in the observed aortic dysfunction.