In Utero Exposure to Maternal Electronic Nicotine Delivery System use Demonstrate Alterations to Craniofacial Development

Objective Develop a model for the study of Electronic Nicotine Device (ENDS) exposure on craniofacial development. Design Experimental preclinical design followed as pregnant murine dams were randomized and exposed to filtered air exposure, carrier exposure consisting of 50% volume of propylene glycol and vegetable glycine (ENDS Carrier) respectively, or carrier exposure with 20 mg/ml of nicotine added to the liquid vaporizer (ENDS carrier with nicotine). Setting Preclinical murine model exposure using the SciReq exposure system. Participants C57BL6 adult 8 week old female pregnant mice and exposed in utero litters. Interventions Exposure to control filtered air, ENDS carrier or ENDS carrier with nicotine added throughout gestation at 1 puff/minute, 4 h/day, five days a week. Main Outcome Measures Cephalometric measures of post-natal day 15 pups born as exposed litters. Results Data suggests alterations to several facial morphology parameters in the developing offspring, suggesting electronic nicotine device systems may alter facial growth if used during pregnancy. Conclusions Future research should concentrate on varied formulations and exposure regimens of ENDS to determine timing windows of exposures and ENDS formulations that may be harmful to craniofacial development.