Strawberry additive Increases Nicotine Vapor Sampling and Systemic Exposure But Does Not Enhance Pavlovian-Based Nicotine Reward in Mice.

Introduction:
This article presents a study examining the impact of a strawberry-flavored additive on nicotine reward and aversion in adolescent mice. The researchers used a conditioned place preference (CPP) procedure and respiration monitoring to investigate the effects of the additive on nicotine intake and reward.

Key Points:

* The study used adolescent male and female C57BL/6J mice in a CPP paradigm, exposing them to nicotine vapor with or without a strawberry additive.
* The researchers found that mice exposed to nicotine plus strawberry-additive vapor had higher plasma cotinine concentrations, indicating increased nicotine exposure.
* however, the strawberry additive did not enhance Pavlovian nicotine reward using a CPP paradigm.
* The authors suggest that the chemosensory properties of e-cigarette additives, rather than their ability to enhance reward, may be a critical factor in nicotine intake.
* The study also found that mice exposed to nicotine plus strawberry-additive vapor showed increased sniffing intensity compared to those exposed to nicotine vapor alone.
* The strawberry additive was unable to enhance pavlovian nicotine reward using a CPP paradigm.
* The study used e-liquid materials, including nicotine, strawberry flavor concentrate, and vegetable glycerin/propylene glycol (VG/PG) mix, to prepare e-liquids in the laboratory.
* The researchers used a vapor generator controller and a SMOK Baby Beast Brother e-cigarette tank with V8 X-Baby-q2 coils to vaporize e-liquids for vapor exposures.

Main Message:
The study highlights the importance of considering the chemosensory properties of e-cigarette additives as a mechanism for their effect on nicotine use. The authors suggest that the sweet reward contributed by e-cigarette additives may synergize with the nicotine reward, enhancing overall reward. however, the study found that the strawberry additive did not enhance pavlovian nicotine reward using a CPP paradigm. Instead, the additive increased sniffing intensity and nicotine exposure in mice, suggesting that the chemosensory properties of additives may be a critical factor in nicotine intake. The study underscores the need for further research on the impact of e-cigarette additives on nicotine use and reward.

Patten T, Johnson NL, Shaw JK, et al. Strawberry additive Increases Nicotine Vapor Sampling and Systemic Exposure But Does Not Enhance Pavlovian-Based Nicotine Reward in Mice. eNeuro. 2023;10(6). doi:10.1523/ENEURO.0390-22.2023