The effects of prenatal nicotine and THC E-cigarette exposure on motor development in rats. 2022

S Hussain, and K R Breit, and J D Thomas
Center for Behavioral Teratology, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, CA, San Diego, USA.

BACKGROUND In the USA, nicotine and cannabis are the most common licit and illicit drugs used among pregnant women. Importantly, nicotine and cannabis are now being combined for consumption via e-cigarettes, an increasingly popular delivery device. Both nicotine and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary psychoactive component of cannabis, cross the placenta barrier. However, the consequences of prenatal cannabis use are not well understood, and less is known about potential combination effects when consumed with nicotine, especially via e-cigarettes. OBJECTIVE The present study used a rodent model to examine how prenatal e-cigarette exposure to nicotine, THC, and the combination impacts motor development among offspring. METHODS Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to nicotine (36 mg/mL), THC (100 mg/mL), the combination, or vehicle via e-cigarette inhalation from gestational days (GD) 5-20. One sex pair per litter was tested on an early sensorimotor development task (postnatal days [PD] 12-20) and a parallel bar motor coordination task (PD 30-32). RESULTS Combined prenatal exposure to nicotine and THC delayed sensorimotor development, even though neither drug produced impairments on their own. In contrast, prenatal exposure to either nicotine or THC impaired motor coordination, whereas combined exposure exacerbated these effects, particularly among females. CONCLUSIONS These data illustrate that prenatal exposure to either nicotine or THC may alter motor development, and that the combination may produce more severe effects. These findings have important implications for pregnant women as we better understand the teratogenic effects of these drugs consumed via e-cigarettes.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009538 Nicotine Nicotine is highly toxic alkaloid. It is the prototypical agonist at nicotinic cholinergic receptors where it dramatically stimulates neurons and ultimately blocks synaptic transmission. Nicotine is also important medically because of its presence in tobacco smoke. Nicotine Bitartrate,Nicotine Tartrate
D011247 Pregnancy The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH. Gestation,Pregnancies
D011297 Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects The consequences of exposing the FETUS in utero to certain factors, such as NUTRITION PHYSIOLOGICAL PHENOMENA; PHYSIOLOGICAL STRESS; DRUGS; RADIATION; and other physical or chemical factors. These consequences are observed later in the offspring after BIRTH. Delayed Effects, Prenatal Exposure,Late Effects, Prenatal Exposure
D005260 Female Females
D006213 Hallucinogens Drugs capable of inducing illusions, hallucinations, delusions, paranoid ideations, and other alterations of mood and thinking. Despite the name, the feature that distinguishes these agents from other classes of drugs is their capacity to induce states of altered perception, thought, and feeling that are not experienced otherwise. Hallucinogen,Hallucinogenic Agent,Hallucinogenic Drug,Hallucinogenic Substance,Psychedelic,Psychedelic Agent,Psychedelic Agents,Psychotomimetic Agent,Psychotomimetic Agents,Hallucinogenic Agents,Hallucinogenic Drugs,Hallucinogenic Substances,Psychedelics,Agent, Hallucinogenic,Agent, Psychedelic,Agent, Psychotomimetic,Agents, Hallucinogenic,Agents, Psychedelic,Agents, Psychotomimetic,Drug, Hallucinogenic,Drugs, Hallucinogenic,Substance, Hallucinogenic,Substances, Hallucinogenic
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D013759 Dronabinol A psychoactive compound extracted from the resin of Cannabis sativa (marihuana, hashish). The isomer delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is considered the most active form, producing characteristic mood and perceptual changes associated with this compound. THC,Tetrahydrocannabinol,delta(9)-THC,9-ene-Tetrahydrocannabinol,Marinol,Tetrahydrocannabinol, (6a-trans)-Isomer,Tetrahydrocannabinol, (6aR-cis)-Isomer,Tetrahydrocannabinol, (6aS-cis)-Isomer,Tetrahydrocannabinol, Trans-(+-)-Isomer,Tetrahydrocannabinol, Trans-Isomer,delta(1)-THC,delta(1)-Tetrahydrocannabinol,delta(9)-Tetrahydrocannabinol,9 ene Tetrahydrocannabinol,Tetrahydrocannabinol, Trans Isomer
D017207 Rats, Sprague-Dawley A strain of albino rat used widely for experimental purposes because of its calmness and ease of handling. It was developed by the Sprague-Dawley Animal Company. Holtzman Rat,Rats, Holtzman,Sprague-Dawley Rat,Rats, Sprague Dawley,Holtzman Rats,Rat, Holtzman,Rat, Sprague-Dawley,Sprague Dawley Rat,Sprague Dawley Rats,Sprague-Dawley Rats
D051381 Rats The common name for the genus Rattus. Rattus,Rats, Laboratory,Rats, Norway,Rattus norvegicus,Laboratory Rat,Laboratory Rats,Norway Rat,Norway Rats,Rat,Rat, Laboratory,Rat, Norway,norvegicus, Rattus

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