Why flavored vape products may be attractive: Green apple tobacco flavor elicits reward-related behavior, upregulates nAChRs on VTA dopamine neurons, and alters midbrain dopamine and GABA neuron function

Neuropharmacology
Alicia J AvelarBrandon J Henderson

Abstract

While nicotine is the primary addictive component in tobacco products, additional flavors have become a concern with the growing popularity of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS). For this reason, we have begun to investigate popular tobacco and ENDS flavors. Here, we examined farnesol, a chemical flavorant used in green apple and fruit flavors in ENDS e-liquids, for its ability to produce reward-related behavior. Using male and female 3-6 month old C57BL/6 J mice and farnesol doses of 0.1, 1, and 10 mg/kg we identified a sex-dependent effect in a conditioned place preference assay: farnesol-alone produces reward-related behavior in only male mice. Despite this sex-dependent effect, 1.0 mg/kg farnesol enhances locomotor activity in both male and female mice. To understand farnesol's effect on reward-related behavior, we used whole-cell patch-clamp electrophysiology and confocal microscopy to investigate changes in putative dopamine and GABA neurons. For these approaches, we utilized genetically modified mice that contain fluorescent nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). Our electrophysiological assays with male mice revealed that farnesol treatment increases ventral tegmental area (VTA) dopamine neuron firing freq...Continue Reading

Citations

Apr 5, 2020·Journal of General Internal Medicine·Lydia Winnicka, Mangalore Amith Shenoy
Aug 30, 2020·Nicotine & Tobacco Research : Official Journal of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco·Skylar Y CooperBrandon J Henderson
Sep 19, 2020·Molecules : a Journal of Synthetic Chemistry and Natural Product Chemistry·Skylar Y Cooper, Brandon J Henderson
Jun 6, 2020·The Journal of Physiology·Tim Marczylo
Mar 8, 2020·Food and Chemical Toxicology : an International Journal Published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association·Joanna A RuszkiewiczMichael Aschner
Jun 5, 2020·Neuropharmacology·Theresa Patten, Mariella De Biasi
Aug 28, 2021·Molecules : a Journal of Synthetic Chemistry and Natural Product Chemistry·Skylar Y CooperBrandon J Henderson

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