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. 2019 Aug 12;10:885. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2019.00885

Effects of Chronic Inhalation of Electronic Cigarette Vapor Containing Nicotine on Neurotransmitters in the Frontal Cortex and Striatum of C57BL/6 Mice

Fawaz Alasmari 1,2, Laura E Crotty Alexander 3,4, Alaa M Hammad 1,5, Christine M Bojanowski 3,4, Alex Moshensky 3,4, Youssef Sari 1,*
PMCID: PMC6699083  PMID: 31456684

Abstract

Electronic (E)-cigarettes are the latest form of nicotine delivery device and are highly popular in the general population. It is currently unknown whether vaping E-cigarettes (E-CIGs) leads to nicotine addiction. Alterations in the levels of the neurotransmitters in the mesocorticolimbic areas have been reported to mediate the initiation and development of nicotine addiction. Therefore, to determine whether E-CIGs activate the same addiction pathways as conventional cigarettes, we investigated for the effects of daily inhalation of nicotine (24 mg/ml)-containing E-CIG vapor for 6 months on the concentrations of these neurotransmitters in the frontal cortex (FC) and striatum (STR) of male C57BL/6 mice as compared to control group that was exposed to air only. We reported here that 6-month E-CIG vapor containing nicotine inhalation decreased dopamine concentration only in the STR. There were no changes in serotonin concentrations in the FC or STR. Chronic E-CIG exposure also increased glutamate concentration in the STR alone, while glutamine concentrations were increased in both the FC and STR. We found that E-CIG exposure also decreased GABA concentration only in the FC. These data suggest that chronic E-CIG use alters homeostasis of several neurotransmitters in the mesocorticolimbic areas, which may result in the development of nicotine dependence in E-CIG users.

Keywords: E-cigarettes, dopamine, glutamate, glutamine, GABA, serotonin

Introduction

The use of electronic (E)-cigarettes worldwide is substantial, with use ranging from 1 to 25% across populations (Delnevo et al., 2015; Palipudi et al., 2015; Singh, 2016; Zhong et al., 2016). Although E-cigarette devices produce a nicotine-containing aerosol, commonly referred to as vapor, with fewer toxic constituents as compared to conventional tobacco cigarette smoke (Margham et al., 2016), research studies have reported that E-cigarette (E-CIG) vapor induces inflammation and impairs host defense and has other notable toxicological effects (Vardavas et al., 2012; Hwang et al., 2016; Yu et al., 2016; Canistro et al., 2017; Crotty Alexander et al., 2018). Indeed, 3–6 month exposure of nicotine (24 mg/ml)-containing E-CIG vapor in CD-1 and C57BL/6 mice through inhalation route resulted in an increase of circulating proinflammatory and profibrotic proteins in both strains. Moreover, chronic E-CIG vapor inhalation reduced renal filtration by 20%, and fibrosis was also shown in kidney, heart, and liver. Importantly, the same study found that E-CIG vapor inhalation altered the function of cardiovascular system; this involves reduction in the heart rate and increases in the blood pressure (Crotty Alexander et al., 2018). In addition, there is a high dependence rate reported for E-CIGs, and clinical studies have reported addictive behavioral effects such as withdrawal manifestations and a high urge to smoke (Dawkins et al., 2012; Foulds et al., 2014; Etter and Eissenberg, 2015). It has been suggested that these addictive effects develop due to alterations in the homeostasis of neurotransmitters in the mesocorticolimbic brain areas (Mifsud et al., 1989; Caillé and Parsons, 2004; Deehan et al., 2015). In our study, for the first time, we reported the effects of chronic inhalation of nicotine-containing E-CIG vapor on the tissue contents of several neurotransmitters in the frontal cortex (FC) and striatum (STR) in male C57BL/6 mice.

Stimulation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) after exposure to nicotine using minipumps for 2 weeks at dose of 0.125 mg/kg (s.c.) or microinjection of nicotine into the ventral tegmental area (VTA) caused changes in dopamine neurotransmission in male Sprague–Dawley rats and male Wistar rats, respectively (Fuxe et al., 1990; Tizabi et al., 2002). Additionally, it has been found that dopamine receptor antagonists attenuated self-administration of nicotine (0.03 mg/kg/infusion) in male Long–Evans rats while increases in extracellular dopamine concentrations in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) shell have been observed in male Sprague–Dawley rats with a preference to nicotine (Corrigall and Coen, 1991; Scherma et al., 2012). A recent clinical report showed that smoking tobacco cigarettes also affected dopamine biosynthesis in the mesocorticolimbic system in humans (Rademacher et al., 2016). Nicotine exposure has also been shown to induce effects of serotonin neurotransmission. Acute (2, 4, or 8 mg/kg, s.c.) and chronic (0.4 mg/kg, i.p. for 2 weeks) systemic injection of nicotine caused an increase of serotonin release in the frontocortical area in male Sprague–Dawley rats and STR in male Wistar rats, respectively (Ribeiro et al., 1993; Takahashi et al., 1998). Chronic exposure, not acute, to nicotine (0.7 mg/kg, s.c.) increases the re-uptake of serotonin in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and hippocampus in male Sprague–Dawley rats (Awtry and Werling, 2003). Chronic nicotine (6 mg/kg/day) exposure using minipumps for 12 days also decreases the mRNA expression of serotonin transporters in the dorsal raphe in male Wistar rats, suggesting alterations in the concentrations of serotonin within the mesocorticolimbic system (Semba and Wakuta, 2008). It has been found that there is an association between gene polymorphism of serotonin transporters and smoking behaviors in humans (Ishikawa et al., 1999; Watanabe et al., 2011). Less is known about the effect of chronic E-CIG exposure on the dopaminergic and serotonin systems. Here, we investigated dopamine and serotonin levels in both the FC and STR of mice after 6 month inhalation of nicotine-containing E-CIG vapor.

A prior study from our laboratory demonstrated that 6-month inhalation of E-CIG vapor containing nicotine (24 mg/ ml) led to down-regulation of both cystine/glutamate antiporter (xCT) and glutamate transporter-1 (GLT-1) in the STR of outbred female CD1 mice (Alasmari et al., 2017). Decreases in the expression of these astro-glial glutamate transporters are associated with high concentrations of glutamate in the synapses (Han et al., 2008; Das et al., 2015). Moreover, our laboratory recently reported that increased GLT-1 expression in PFC and NAc is associated with reduced nicotine drinking (0.07 and 0.14 mg/ml) behavior in female alcohol preferring rats (Sari et al., 2016). Studies have shown that nicotine exposure through intra-cortical infusions (12 mM) in male Wistar rats or in vitro application in isolated nerve terminals stimulates α7-nAChR in presynaptic glutamatergic neurons and consequently increases the release of glutamate (Wang et al., 2006; Konradsson‐Geuken et al., 2009). The biosynthesis of glutamate and glutamine is also increased in animals exposed to nicotine (2mg/kg, s.c.) for 4 weeks in C57BL/6 mice (Shameem and Patel, 2012). In this study, we determined whether E-CIG vapor exposure causes alterations on the concentrations of glutamate and glutamine in the FC and STR.

Previous studies have reported that exposure to nicotine (10 μM) for short-term increased GABA neurotransmission in the medial septum and hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons (DuBois et al., 2013). GABA, an inhibitory neurotransmitter, blocks the effects of the excitatory neurotransmitter and dopamine in the brain (Dewey et al., 1999; Polosa and Benowitz, 2011), and GABA receptor agonists attenuate nicotine-seeking behaviors in male Wistar rats (Paterson et al., 2004; Paterson et al., 2005). Several studies have found that GABAergic system desensitization develops following long-lasting effects of nicotine (0.5 μM or 1 μM) using VTA neurons (Mansvelder et al., 2002; Pidoplichko et al., 2004). This desensitization effect reduces the inhibitory effects of GABA leading to excitability of the dopamine reward system (D’Souza and Markou, 2013). In this study, we evaluated the concentrations of GABA in the FC and STR of mice after long-term exposure to E-CIG vapors to investigate whether E-CIG use induces any alterations in the inhibitory neurotransmitter, GABA, and the excitatory neurotransmitters dopamine and glutamate.

Materials and Methods

E-CIG

E-liquid mixtures of 50% glycerin, 50% propylene glycol, and 24 mg/ml nicotine (purchased from Xtreme Vaping) were prepared in our laboratory as described in our recent study (Alasmari et al., 2017). No flavors or other additives were used. E-CIG cartomizers (tanks; 2.4 ohm, plastic, refillable) and batteries (rechargeable, stainless steel, 280 mAh fixed, automatic) were bought from FastTech. Fresh E-CIG vapors were created by activating the battery via application of negative pressure, 2L/ min for 1 s, by the InExpose system (SciReq), and followed by continuous negative pressure of 1L/min for 3 additional seconds. By activating the battery and applying pneumatic pressure, the e-liquid was heated and drawn through the internal atomizer, which created E-CIG vapors.

Mouse Inhalation of E-CIG Vapor

Ten male C57BL/6 mice, 6–8 weeks old, were bought from Harlan Labs. The SciReq inExpose inhalation system was used as explained in our recent reports (Alasmari et al., 2017; Crotty Alexander et al., 2018). Soft-mesh restraints, such that only the noses of mice are introduced into the central channel through which the E-CIG vapor flows, were used in this study to focus the E-CIG vapor exposure to the respiratory system, creating a physiologic exposure model of E-CIG use. Mice inhaled E-CIG vapor for 4 s every 20 s, for 1 h/day, for 5 days/week, for 6 months (E-CIG group). Using the same restraints, control mice were exposed to environmental air only (air control group) for the same amount of time. Pre-warmed cages were used to recover mice for 30 min post-exposure. At the end of 6 months, mice were anesthetized with 10 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg of xylazine and ketamine, respectively, and were administered in PBS intraperitoneally, 30–60 min after the final exposure. Mice also received 200 units of heparin in 200 µl PBS i.p. during induction of anesthesia. Terminal intra-aortic bleed was performed, followed by opening the right and left cardiac ventricles. All animal protocols were in accordance with the NIH guidelines for animal use and approved by the IACUC committee at the University of California, San Diego, and San Diego VA Healthcare System.

Brain Tissue Dissection

Brains were isolated and brain areas, FC and STR, were indicated and dissected using the Mouse Brain Atlas, the stereotaxic coordinates (Paxinos, 2004). All brain tissues were then snapfrozen in a liquid nitrogen and kept at −80°C for neurotransmitter assays.

High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) With Electrochemical Detection (EC)

The levels of dopamine and serotonin in the FC and the STR were detected using HPLC-EC system as described in our prior study (Das et al., 2016). Briefly, brain tissue samples were lysed and sonicated in 0.25N perchloric acid and subsequently centrifuged for 20 min at 4°C at 14,000 × g. A specific 0.22-μm filter was used to filter the supernatants, and the resulted filtrates were injected into a C18 column (3.2 × 150 mm, 3-μm particle size, from Thermo Scientific). A mobile phase (54.3 mM sodium phosphate, 0.32 mM citric acid, 0.215 mM octyl sodium sulfate, and 11% methanol [pH∼ 4.4]) was prepared and used. To detect dopamine and serotonin concentrations, the coulometric detector (CoulArray model 5600A, ESA, Inc). was applied and connected to CoulArray software in which the chromatograms are shown. The external standards of dopamine and serotonin were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich and analyzed by calculating the peak area representing the standard calibration curve. The concentrations of the dopamine and serotonin of the tissue samples were then detected. Tissue sample pellets were re-suspended with 1N NaOH for protein quantification, using DC (detergent compatible) protein assay, to normalize the concentrations of neurotransmitters to the relative protein contents.

HPLC-EC system was used to quantify the concentrations of glutamate, glutamine, and GABA in the FC and the STR following 6-month exposure to E-CIG vapor. As described previously (Das et al., 2016), homogenized FC and STR tissues with millipore water were heated at 98°C for 5 min and centrifuged for 5 min at 4°C at 10,000 rpm. After centrifugation, supernatants were filtered using 0.22-μm filters, while the pellets were collected for protein assay. Derivatization of pre-column (C18 column [3.0 × 50 mm, 2.5-μm particle size, Waters, Inc.]) of supernatants was performed by mixture of sodium sulfite and o-phthalaldehyde in solution-containing ethanol, sodium sulfite, and 0.1 M sodium tertraborate using 540 autosampler and ESA model. A mobile phase (0.1 mM EDTA, 0.1 M Na2HPO4, and 7.5% methanol [pH ∼ 2.8–3]) was prepared and used. To detect glutamate, glutamine, and GABA, the coulometric detector (CoulArray model 5600A, ESA, Inc). was applied and connected to CoulArray software in which the chromatograms are shown. The external standards of glutamate, glutamine, and GABA were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich and analyzed by calculating peak area which represent standard calibration curve. The concentrations of GABA, glutamate, and glutamine of the tissue samples were then detected. Tissue sample pellets were re-suspended with 1N NaOH for protein quantification, using DC (detergent compatible) protein assay, to normalize the concentrations of neurotransmitters to the relative protein contents.

Statistical Analyses

Unpaired independent t-test was used to analyze tissue content readings obtained for neurotransmitters of interest in the FC and STR brain tissues between E-CIG-exposed group and air controls. The level of the significance of the statistical data was shown as p < 0.05.

Results

Chronic E-CIG Vapor Exposure for 6 Months Decreased Dopamine in the STR

We determined the concentrations of dopamine in the FC and STR in mice exposed to only air- or nicotine-containing E-CIG vapor for 6 months. Compared to control mice, we demonstrated that the concentration of dopamine in the STR was lower in E-CIG group (p = 0.0266; Figures 1C, D ). However, chronic E-CIG vapor exposure did not alter dopamine concentrations in the FC area (p = 0.1792; Figures 1A, B ).

Figure 1.

Figure 1

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Effects of inhalation of E-cigarette vapor (E-CIG) for 6 months on dopamine concentrations in the frontal cortex (FC) and striatum (STR) in male C57BL/6 mice. (A) Peaks of dopamine in the FC in air and E-CIG groups. (B) Independent t-test analysis did not show any significant alterations in dopamine concentration in the FC between control and E-CIG groups. (C) Peaks of dopamine in the STR for air and E-CIG groups. (D) Independent t-test analysis revealed a significant reduction in dopamine concentration in the STR in E-CIG vapor–exposed group as compared to air controls. Data are reported as mean ± SEM (*p < 0.05, ns; not significant), (n = 5 for each group), (X-axis, retention time [minutes], Y-axis, response).

Chronic E-CIG Vapor Exposure for 6 Months Does Not Alter Serotonin Concentrations in the FC or STR

We further detected the concentrations of serotonin in the FC and STR after inhalation of nicotine-containing E-CIG vapor for 6 months. There were no significant changes in serotonin concentrations in the FC (p = 0.8462; Figures 2A, B ) and the STR (p = 0.8114; Figures 2C, D ) after 6-month inhalation of E-CIG vapors as compared to air controls.

Figure 2.

Figure 2

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Effect of inhalation of E-CIG for 6 months on serotonin concentrations in the FC and STR in male C57BL/6 mice. (A) Peaks of serotonin in the FC in air controls and E-CIG groups. (B) Independent t-test analysis did not show any significant alterations in serotonin concentration in the FC between E-CIG and air controls. (C) Peaks of serotonin in the STR in air controls and E-CIG groups. (D) Independent t-test analysis did not reveal any significant alterations in serotonin concentration in the STR between E-CIG and air controls. Data are reported as mean ± SEM (ns, not significant), (n = 5 for each group), (X-axis, retention time [minutes], Y-axis, response).

Chronic E-CIG Vapor Exposure for 6-Months Increased Glutamate Concentrations in the STR

We quantified glutamate concentrations in the FC and STR in mice exposed to nicotine-containing E-CIG vapors for 6 months. As compared to air control mice, E-CIG-exposed group had a significant increase in glutamate concentration in the STR (p = 0.0366; Figures 3C, D ) but not in the FC (p = 0.1995; Figures 3A, B ). We next determined the effects of chronic exposure to E-CIG vapor on the concentrations of glutamine in both FC and STR.

Figure 3.

Figure 3

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Effects of inhalation of E-CIG fox 6 months on glutamate concentrations in the FC and STR in male C57BL/6 mice. (A) Peaks of glutamate in the FC in air controls and E-CIG groups. (B) Independent t-test analysis did not show any significant alterations in glutamate concentration in the FC between E-CIG and air controls. (C) Peaks of glutamate in the STR for air control and E-CIG groups. (D) Independent t-test analysis revealed significant elevations in glutamate concentration in the STR in E-CIG vapor–exposed group compared to air controls. Data are reported as mean ± SEM (*p < 0.05, ns, not significant), (n = 5 for each group), (X-axis, retention time [minutes], Y-axis, response).

Chronic E-CIG Vapor Exposure for 6 Months Increased Glutamine Concentrations in the FC and STR

Since daily exposure to E-CIG vapor for 6 months elevated glutamate concentrations in the STR, we evaluated concentrations of glutamine in both the FC and the STR in mice exposed to E-CIG vapor versus air controls for 6 months. Glutamine concentrations were significantly increased in the FC (p = 0.0481; Figures 4A, B ) and STR (p = 0.0017; Figures 4C, D ) in nicotine-containing E-CIG vapor–exposed group compared to air controls.

Figure 4.

Figure 4

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Effects of inhalation of E-CIG for 6 months on glutamine concentrations in the FC and STR in male C57BL/6 mice. (A) Peaks of glutamine in the FC in air control and E-CIG groups. (B) Independent t-test analysis revealed a marked increase in glutamine concentration in the FC in E-CIG vapor–exposed group as compared to the controls. (C) Peaks of glutamine in the STR in air control and E-CIG groups. (D) Independent t-test analysis revealed a marked increase in glutamine concentration in the STR in E-CIG vapor–exposed group compared to air controls. Data are reported as mean ± SEM (**p < 0.01,*p < 0.05) (n = 5 for each group), (X-axis, retention time [minutes], Y-axis, response).

Chronic E-CIG Vapor Exposure for 6 Months Decreased GABA in the FC

The effects of 6 months inhalation of E-CIG vapors containing nicotine on the levels of GABA in the FC and STR were investigated. Chronic daily exposure to E-CIG vapor induced a significant decrease in the levels of GABA in the FC (p = 0.0415; Figures 5A, B ) compared to air controls. However, there was no significant change in GABA concentration in the STR of mice after 6-month vaping of nicotine-containing E-CIG vapors (p = 0.3941; Figures 5C, D ).

Figure 5.

Figure 5

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Effects of inhalation of E-CIG for 6 months on GABA concentrations in the FC and STR in male C57BL/6 mice. (A) Peaks of GABA in the FC in air control and E-CIG groups. (B) Independent t-test analysis revealed that there is a significant reduction in GABA concentration in the FC in E-CIG-exposed group compared to air controls. (C) Peaks of GABA in the STR in air control and E-CIG groups. (D) Independent t-test analysis did not show any significant alterations in GABA concentration in the STR between E-CIG-exposed group and air controls. Data are reported as mean ± SEM (*p < 0.05, ns, not significant), (n = 5 for each group), (X-axis, retention time [minutes], Y-axis, response).

Discussion

The projections of both glutamatergic and dopaminergic systems from the PFC and VTA, respectively, into the NAc, are necessary for the development of drug dependence, including nicotine (LaLumiere and Kalivas, 2008; Feduccia et al., 2012; Pistillo et al., 2015; Subramaniyan and Dani, 2015). Additionally, glutamatergic projections have been found to be released from the amygdala and hippocampus into the NAc (Goodwani et al., 2017; Alasmari et al., 2018). The FC receives GABAergic inputs from the VTA and basal ganglia (Carr and Sesack, 2000; Saunders et al., 2015), and GABA can inhibit dopamine release from the VTA into the NAc and FC. This effect has been suggested to attenuate nicotine- and cocaine-seeking behavior (D’Souza and Markou, 2013; Edwards et al., 2017). Alternatively, serotonergic inputs from raphe nuclei have been found to stimulate serotonin receptors in the STR, NAc, and hippocampus (Nakamura, 2013). In the present work, we studied the concentrations of these neurotransmitters in two critical brain areas, FC and STR, in mice exposed daily to nicotine within E-CIG vapor for 6 months. Our data provide evidence that chronic E-CIG use induces changes in neurochemical levels in the FC and STR and activates nicotine dependence pathways ( Figure 6 ).

Figure 6.

Figure 6

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Schematic diagram summarizes the effects of inhalation of E-CIG vapor containing nicotine for 6 months on the concentrations of neurotransmitters in the FC and STR.

Nicotine exposure has been found to induce the release of neurotransmitters including dopamine and glutamate through stimulatory effects on nAChRs in the mesocorticolimbic areas (Tizabi et al., 2002; Tizabi et al., 2007; Konradsson‐Geuken et al., 2009; Yan et al., 2018). Exposure to nicotine (0.125 mg.kg, s.c.) using minipumps for 2 weeks increased dopamine stores in the caudate putamen in male Sprague–Dawley rats (Fuxe et al., 1990). This study found that the utilization of dopamine was reduced in the substantia nigra. Interestingly, other studies reported that several month-long exposure to nicotine through smoking cigarettes and drinking solution-containing nicotine significantly decreased dopamine synthesis and release in humans and monkeys, respectively (Perez et al., 2012; Rademacher et al., 2016). In this study, with a several month-long exposure to nicotine via E-CIG vapor inhalation, we found reduced dopamine concentrations in the STR, but not in the FC. This consistency between previous data and our own suggests that chronic inhalation of tobacco smoke or nicotine-containing E-CIG vapor reduces dopamine synthesis and content, specifically in the STR ( Figure 6 ).

Previous studies have shown conflicting results regarding the effects of nicotine exposure on serotonin expression, uptake, and functions (Awtry and Werling, 2003; Munafo et al., 2005; Semba and Wakuta, 2008; Smolka et al., 2019). In male rats, acute nicotine (2, 4, or 8 mg/kg, s.c.) and chronic nicotine (0.4 mg/kg, i.p. for 2 weeks) exposure increased the extracellular concentrations and release of serotonin in the FC in Sprague–Dawley rats and STR in Wistar rats, respectively (Ribeiro et al., 1993; Takahashi et al., 1998). We did not find significant alterations in the concentrations of serotonin in the FC and STR following E-CIG vapor exposure for 6 months. These data suggest that, while nicotine might affect the release as well as the uptake of serotonin, there is no effect on the serotonin content within the FC and STR.

Studies found that glutamatergic system is dysregulated in multiple mesocorticolimbic brain regions following exposure to nicotine (Knackstedt et al., 2009; Cheng and Yakel, 2014). Using the same E-CIG procedure, we have reported changes in the expression level of xCT, GLT-1, α-7 nAChR, and GLAST in the STR, FC, and hippocampus in outbred female CD1 mice (Alasmari et al., 2017). Studies have reported that nicotine stimulates nAChRs and also reduces glutamate uptake, which may lead to elevation of synaptic glutamate concentrations (Knackstedt et al., 2009; Cheng and Yakel, 2014). In addition, studies showed that nicotine exposure (10 μM) increased glutamate transmission in hippocampal CA3 pyramidal neurons using patch-clamp recordings (Cheng and Yakel, 2014). Moreover, nicotine self-administration (0.03 mg/kg per infusion) for 21 days was found to cause downregulation of astro-glial glutamate transporters in the NAc in male Wistar rats (Knackstedt et al., 2009). This is suggested to decrease glutamate uptake and increase extracellular glutamate.

Importantly, we found recently that E-CIG vapor inhalation for 6 months does not alter the expression level of GLT-1 in the FC in female CD1 mice (Alasmari et al., 2017). In the present study, daily inhalation of E-CIG vapor containing nicotine for 6 months did not affect the concentrations of glutamate in the FC. These data suggest that extracellular glutamate in the FC is transported into astrocytes mainly by GLT-1 and is then converted to glutamine. Additionally, FC receives and sends glutamate inputs from and to multiple brain regions in the mesocorticolimbic area. Thus, most of glutamate in the FC innervates other brain areas such as NAc (Britt et al., 2012). We found here that E-CIG vapor containing nicotine exposure increased the concentration of glutamate in the STR ( Figures 3C, D and 6 ). It is noteworthy that the ventral STR area receives glutamate inputs from FC, amygdala, and hippocampus (Kalivas and Volkow, 2005; Britt et al., 2012). Moreover, a prior study from our laboratory found that 6-month daily inhalation of E-CIG vapor containing nicotine downregulated striatal xCT and GLT-1, but not in the FC (Alasmari et al., 2017). The increase in glutamatergic projections to the STR (Mori et al., 1994) and the decrease of striatal glial glutamate transporters expression (Alasmari et al., 2017) may lead to high concentrations of glutamate. Elevation of glutamate concentrations in the STR may mediate the initiation and development of nicotine addiction.

Nicotine dependence has been suggested to be associated with increases in glutamine biosynthesis and concentrations in astrocytes. We demonstrate here that E-CIG exposure increases glutamine concentrations in both FC and STR ( Figures 4A–D and 6 ). These data are consistent with a prior study showing that glutamine synthesis was increased significantly in the cortex and subcortex brain regions of C57BL/6 mice injected with nicotine (2 mg/kg, s.c.) for 4 weeks (Shameem and Patel, 2012) and confirms that inhalation of nicotine induces the same alterations.

The GABAergic system has been investigated extensively as a major inhibitory neurotransmitter system strongly associated with drug dependence (Negus et al., 2000; Paterson et al., 2004; Jayaram and Steketee, 2005; Miranda et al., 2009). A prior study reported that chronic exposure to tobacco smoke (500 ml, three times/day) for 4 weeks environment or nicotine reduced the expression of GABA-B1 receptor in the hippocampus in male Sprague–Dawley rats (Li et al., 2002). Therapeutic compounds that modulate the GABA receptor have been reported to attenuate nicotine-seeking behavior in mice and rats (Fattore et al., 2002; Paterson et al., 2008; Li et al., 2017). The inhibitory role of GABA on dopamine release is suggested to be the mechanism for the attenuating effects of GABA receptors agonists on nicotine-seeking behavior (D’Souza and Markou, 2013). Although nicotine exposure (2 mg/kg, s.c.) for 4 weeks in C57BL/6 mice may increase the synthesis of GABA in the cortex (Shameem and Patel, 2012), exposure to 500 nM of nicotine for 25 min has been shown to increase GABA transmission measured by inhibitory postsynaptic currents, and this effect was followed by a long-term inhibition on the GABA neurons in the VTA (Pidoplichko et al., 2004). This indicates that chronic nicotine exposure desensitizes GABA receptors and reduces GABA transmission (Mansvelder et al., 2002). In the present study, we found that daily E-CIG vapor exposure for 6 months reduced GABA concentrations in the FC, but not in the STR ( Figures 5A–D and 6 ). The decrease of GABA level in the FC in our study suggests that persistent nicotine exposure results in further stimulation of excitatory neurotransmission in central reward areas, which may facilitate nicotine-seeking behavior.

Conclusion

Our data indicate that chronic, daily inhalation of nicotine-containing E-CIG vapor alters the concentrations of neurotransmitters within mesocorticolimbic brain regions ( Figure 6 ). The changes in neurotransmitter levels in our murine model suggest that daily, persistent use of E-CIGs may lead to addiction to nicotine. The deleterious effect of the E-CIG on the neurotransmitters may be due to nicotine exposure; however, further investigations for the effects of the vehicle used in the E-CIG on neurotransmitters’ concentrations are warranted. This raises a public health concern as it suggests that the younger generations of users, which have the highest rates of E-CIG use, might become addicted to these devices despite unknown long-term physiologic and pathologic consequences (Crotty Alexander et al., 2015). Furthermore, existing data suggest that young users of E-CIGs are more likely to start smoking conventional tobacco, which may have serious deleterious effects on human health (Leventhal et al., 2015; Goldenson et al., 2017). Further studies are needed to determine the withdrawal and relapse effects of exposure to nicotine-containing E-CIG vapor on neurotransmitter concentrations in the mesocorticolimbic brain regions.

Data Availability

The raw data supporting the conclusions of this manuscript will be made available by the authors, without undue reservation, to any qualified researcher.

Ethics Statement

All animal protocols were in accordance with the NIH guidelines for animal use and approved by the IACUC committee at the University of California, San Diego and San Diego VA Healthcare System.

Author Contributions

FA participated in study design and conceptualization, drafted and revised the manuscript, performed electrochemical detection of neurotransmitters, collected the data. LCA conceptualized and designed the study, critically revised the manuscript for intellectual content, and approved the final version of the manuscript. AH performed electrochemical detection of neurotransmitters, collected the data and helped with the editing of manuscript. CB performed the animal study with electronic cigarettes containing nicotine and collected the animal brains. AM performed the animal study with electronic cigarettes containing nicotine and collected the animal brains. YS conceptualized and designed the study, critically revised the manuscript for intellectual content, and approved the final version of the manuscript.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Abbreviations

α-7 nAChR, alpha-7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor; e-cigarettes, electronic cigarette; FC, frontal cortex; GABA, gamma-Aminobutyric acid; GLT-1, glutamate transporter-1; NAc, nucleus accumbens; PFC, prefrontal cortex; STR, striatum; VTA, ventral tegmental area; xCT, cystine/glutamate antiporter.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the National Institutes of Health (R01AA019458 to YS; R01HL137052-01 to LCA), American Heart Association Beginning Grant-in-Aid (16BGIA27790079 to LCA), a UAB-UCSD O’Brien Center Daniel O’Connor Scholar Award (NIH P30-DK079337 to LCA), an ATS Foundation K to R Transition Award (LCA), salary support from the Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System (LCA), and International Scientific Partnership Program (ISPP-146) from Deanship of Scientific Research-King Saud University for their support. Authors would like to thank Dr. Bruce S. Levison for all his valuable guidance and suggestions with HPLC troubleshooting.

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