Animal models of developmental toxicity induced by early life electronic-cigarettes exposure

The rising prevalence of electronic-cigarettes (E-cigs) use during pregnancy and lactation can be attributed, in part, to advertising campaigns promoting their safety. Nevertheless, the integrity of E-cigs as a secure substitute for conventional cigarettes necessitates further exploration. Some studies emphasize the toxic role of nicotine in E-cigs, while others underscore the significance of other distinct components whose toxicity cannot be disregarded. Increasingly, researchers are employing rodent models to elucidate the potential toxicological implications of e-cig use. Various paradigms of E-cigs exposure in early life frequently yield divergent health outcomes for offspring. This review first presents different animal model approaches to E-cig-exposure during pregnancy and lactation, referring to E-cig liquid, E-cig devices, puff topography, and inhalation methods, which would be related to the health outcomes. Moreover, the mechanisms underlying the hazardous impacts of maternal E-cig-exposure on offspring are also elucidated. Maternal exposure to E-cigs has been found to induce adverse effects on lung function, neurobehavior, glycolipid metabolism and energy homeostasis in offspring, which are probably mediated through inflammation, oxidative stress, and epigenetic modifications.