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

Introduction:
This text summarizes a preclinical study examining the effects of exposure to electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) on craniofacial development in a murine model. The study aimed to establish a model for studying ENDS components on craniofacial development and investigate how the formulation of common carrier components nicotine and propylene glycol/vegetable glycerin (PG/VG) affects this development.

Key Points:

* The study used pregnant C57BL6 mice and exposed them to filtered air, ENDS carrier (50% volume of PG/VG), or ENDS carrier with nicotine added throughout gestation.
* Exposures were conducted using the SciReq exposure system and followed a regimen of 1 puff/minute, 4 hours/day, five days a week.
* Litters were allowed to age until postnatal day 15, when they were sacrificed for Microcomputed Tomography (MicroCT) analyses.
* Data demonstrated a significant decrease in weight for pups exposed to EC nicotine in utero, though the weight was within the normal range.
* Calvarial cephalometric measures did not demonstrate any differences, but facial measures suggested several segregating significant differences for the EC nicotine in utero exposed group.
* Specifically, posterior and mid facial width demonstrated decreased width, facial length demonstrated shorter lengths, and measures of the palate demonstrated a decreased palatal width and shortening of the palate and cranial base.
* The carrier exposure alone also resulted in narrower palates, suggesting a need for further study of carrier component exposures.

Main Message:
The study suggests that ENDS exposures during pregnancy may alter craniofacial growth, particularly in the face and palate. These findings highlight the need for further investigation into the potential effects of ENDS on developing systems and the importance of regulating these products to protect public health.

Kishinchand R, Boyce M, Vyas h, et al. In Utero Exposure to Maternal Electronic Nicotine Delivery System use Demonstrate alterations to Craniofacial Development. The Cleft palate-craniofacial journal : official publication of the american Cleft Palate-Craniofacial association. Published online March 14, 2023:10556656231163400. doi:10.1177/10556656231163400