Switching from tobacco cigarettes in very early pregnancy: The effects of in utero e-cigarette exposure on mouse offspring neurodevelopment and behaviour.

This study investigates the effects of switching from tobacco smoking to e-cigarette use in very early pregnancy on birth outcomes, neurodevelopment, and behavior of the offspring in mice. The results suggest that there may be some benefits as well as negative effects of switching to e-cigarettes in early pregnancy, with gestational outcomes and early markers of physical- and neuro- development being unaffected, but locomotion, anxiety-like behavior, and object recognition memory during adulthood being affected. Maternal exposure to nicotine containing e-cigarette aerosol was found to increase offspring body-weight and impair motor skill learning. Therefore, pregnant women and health professionals should be informed about the potential risks and benefits of using e-cigarettes during pregnancy.

Bakker C, Chivers E, Chia XW, quintrell E, Wyrwoll C, Larcombe a. Switching from tobacco cigarettes in very early pregnancy: The effects of in utero e-cigarette exposure on mouse offspring neurodevelopment and behaviour. Physiology & behavior. 2023;263:114118. doi:10.1016/j.physbeh.2023.114118