Non-nicotine constituents in e-cigarette aerosol extract attenuate nicotine’s aversive effects in adolescent rats.

Introduction:
This text provides an analysis of a scientific study examining the impact of non-nicotine constituents in electronic cigarette (EC) aerosol extracts on the aversive effects of nicotine in adolescent rats. The study uses the conditioned taste aversion (CTa) model to measure the aversive effects of nicotine and EC aerosol extracts. The key points and main message of the text are summarized below.

Key Points:

* The study used adolescent rats and a two-bottle CTa procedure to compare the aversive effects of nicotine alone and EC aerosol extracts.
* The aerosol extracts were derived from EC aerosol produced by a smoking machine under puffing conditions based on those in EC users.
* The extracts contained most, if not all, of the chemicals that result from heating and aerosolizing the EC liquid, thereby providing more clinically relevant exposure conditions than administering non-aerosolized EC liquid.
* Nicotine concentration was determined and extracts were diluted to the appropriate nicotine concentration for each study using saline.
* The study found that non-nicotine constituents in Vuse Menthol EC extracts attenuated CTa in a two-bottle procedure in adolescents.
* The authors suggest that these models may be useful for anticipating the abuse liability of ECs in adolescents and for modeling FDa-mandated changes in product standards for nicotine or other constituents in ECs.

Main Message:
The study highlights the importance of considering the impact of non-nicotine constituents in EC aerosol extracts on the aversive effects of nicotine in adolescent rats. The findings suggest that non-nicotine constituents in Vuse Menthol EC extracts can alter the CNS-mediated, adverse effects of nicotine exposure. The study provides a valuable contribution to the literature on the abuse liability of ECs in adolescents and has implications for FDa regulation of these products. Overall, the study underscores the need for further research to better understand the impact of EC aerosol extracts on the adolescent brain and behavior.

harris aC, Muelken P, Swain Y, et al. Non-nicotine constituents in e-cigarette aerosol extract attenuate nicotine’s aversive effects in adolescent rats. Drug and alcohol dependence. 2019;203:51-60. doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2019.05.023