Consequences of Maternal Vaping on Cerebrovascular Health in Offspring

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Project Summary/Abstract Electronic cigarettes (E-cigs) are promoted as an alternative to smoking during pregnancy, however the immediate and long-term effects are still unknown. Current estimates are that 5-16% of pregnant women will use e-cigs with the expectation that are either ‘reduced’ or ‘no’ risk to offspring health. Yet, inhalation exposures during pregnancy are of significant concern, because: 1) the developing fetus is at a vulnerable period, and 2) even ‘low-levels’ of smoking during pregnancy are known to have measurable vascular health risk to offspring. Thus, there is a critical need for preclinical studies to examine vascular related outcomes, particularly in the context of exposure during pregnancy. We have previously established the maternal vaping during pregnancy significantly impairs cerebral vascular function in offspring (even through adulthood). The goal of this proposal is to evaluate the direct effect of vape exposure on offspring born with prior history of in utero exposure due to maternal vaping, and secondly to determine whether full-term vs limited trimester exposure produces differences in cerebral vascular structure and function in offspring in adolescent and adult life. Based on our preliminary data, our overall hypothesis is that e- cig usage during pregnancy (irrespective of nicotine) creates a hostile gestational environment that leads to reduced cerebral vascularity and blunted vascular responses in offspring later in life. Aim 1 will combine direct e-cig exposure in adolescent- and adult-aged offspring that already have blunted cerebral vascular reactivity secondary to in utero exposure from maternal vaping. Aim 2 will use different exposure patterns of maternal vaping during pregnancy (full-term vs individual trimester exposures) to determine if there is critical exposure window that (more greatly) influences cerebral vascular structure and function in offspring. The proposed studies will identify consequences of maternal vaping combined with secondary direct exposure to offspring later in life; and identify what time frame during pregnancy that vaping might have the greatest influence on cerebral vascular health on offspring. We anticipate our data will provide toxicological and clinical evidence to inform clinicians and consumers on consequences of vaping during pregnancy, as well as information for regulatory agencies when establishing public policy, guidelines or regulations.