Abstract 12467: Maternal Vaping Effects on Cerebrovascular Function in Offspring

Abstract

Electronic cigarettes (E-cigs) are traditionally marketed as a safer alternative to smoking even during pregnancy. Previous studies have shown cerebrovascular dysfunction from direct chronic E-cig exposures, but little is known about the effect of indirect exposure to offspring while in utero. We hypothesize maternal vaping would induce cerebrovascular impairment in offspring, and that vaping at 30 watts would have greater effect compared to 5 watts. Female Sprague Dawley rats (N=8) were time mated, and once pregnant, the dams were randomly assigned to the following groups 1) 5 watts (N=3), 2) 30 watts (N=3), 3) and ambient air (control, N=2). Exposure (consisting of 20 puffs, 1hr/day, 5 days/week) began on gestational day 2-3 using whole-body chambers. E-liquid was 50% vegetable glycerin (VG), 50% propylene glycol (PG) and contained no nicotine or flavor. One male and female offspring per dam were studied 30-days after birth, where the middle cerebral artery (MCA) was isolated and reactivity assessed using dose response (10 -9 M to 10 -4 M) to acetylcholine (ACh), Serotonin (5-HT), L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) via pressure myography. Maximal MCA dilation to ACh (10 -4 M) was impaired in both 5 and 30 watts compared to air (33±3% and 56±6%, respectively, p<0.05), and 30-watt group was greater than 5 watt (p<0.05). MCA vasoconstrictory response to 5-HT in both 5 and 30 watts were impaired compared to control (39±3% vs 52±8%, respectively, p<0.05), but 5 and 30 watts were not different from each other (p=0.08). SNP was only different for 30 watts compared to control (19±7%, p<0.05), and not for 5 watts (9±9%, p=0.07). Changes observed with 5 and 30 watts using L-NAME were not statistically different compared to control (7±11% vs 27±16%, respectively, p=0.15). These data show maternal vaping during pregnancy results in cerebrovascular impairment involving endothelial–dependent and –independent pathways in 1-month old offspring, and suggests that the magnitude of impairment is greater with increasing vaping wattage.