Prepubescent Electronic Cigarette Exposure Affects Sexual Motivation and Puberty in Female But Not Male Long-Evans...

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Science
• Developmental Biology
• Toxicology

Background:

• E-cigarette devices deliver vaporized nicotine, with increasing use among adolescents.
• Understanding the impact of early-life nicotine exposure on reproductive development is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of electronic-cigarette vaporized nicotine on pubertal onset and reproductive behavior in adolescent female and male rats.
• To assess the impact of nicotine exposure on sexual motivation and partner preference.

Main Methods:

• Adolescent rats (postnatal day 28-31) received daily 10-min whole-body exposure to vaporized nicotine or room air.
• Pubertal onset (vaginal opening, preputial separation) was monitored daily.
• Sexual motivation was assessed using a partner-preference paradigm at two time points.

Main Results:

• Vaporized nicotine delayed vaginal opening and reduced sexual motivation in female rats.
• No significant effects on pubertal onset or sexual behavior were observed in male rats.
• A subsequent acute exposure to nicotine vapor did not affect partner preference in adult rats of either sex.

Conclusions:

• Prepubescent exposure to electronic-cigarette vaporized nicotine adversely affects reproductive physiology and behavior in female rats.
• Nicotine exposure during this critical developmental window did not impact male reproductive development or behavior.
• Findings highlight the sex-specific vulnerability to nicotine's developmental effects and the need for further research in adolescent populations.