Examining the Relationship of E-Cigarette Vapor Exposure and Exercise Performance in Aerobically Trained Rats

Authors

Miranda N. Farrar, Southwestern UniversityFollow
Nancy Morales, Southwestern UniversityFollow

Abstract

Electronic cigarettes, or e-cigarettes, are alternatives to traditional cigarettes and they are rapidly growing in popularity. These electronic nicotine delivery systems heat up nicotine and vehicle liquids to deliver nicotine to the user via vapor rather than smoke. Although they are touted as a “healthier” alternative to smoking, vape use is associated with changes in heart rate and blood pressure, increased lung inflammation, and reduced mucociliary clearance. Such physiological changes may have an effect on exercise performance and athletic ability. PURPOSE: This study’s purpose was twofold: to train rats to successfully run on a treadmill, and to evaluate the relationship of e-cigarette vapor exposure and exercise performance in rats. Exercise performance was defined as time spent running, distance run, and peak speed reached. METHODS: An encased SEDACOM two lane treadmill and its accompanying treadmill controller was used to train adult female Long-Evans Rats (n=8) in a 9 week training program. Once all rats were able to run at 40 cm/s, a pre-exposure exercise test was performed to evaluate exercise performance. The test was a graded exercise test that increased speed until exhaustion. Each rat was then randomly assigned to either the control group (n=4) or the vape group (n=4). Both groups continued training according to the training protocol, but the vape group was also exposed to 5% nicotine vapor for 10 minutes a day for 7 days using a whole-body exposure chamber. Following the week of training and vape exposure, a post-exposure exercise test was performed on all rats to evaluate peak speed, distance run, and time run. The post-exposure exercise test followed the same protocol as the pre-exposure exercise test. RESULTS: Peak speed, distance run, and time run were compared to each other through three separate 2 x 2 (Group x Time) Mixed Model ANOVAs. There was no main effect of Group or Time on exercise performance, nor an interaction between the two. The most notable result, though not statistically significant, was the effect of time (pre-exposure test vs post-exposure test) on time run (F(1,6)=0.182, p=0.684, ƞp2 = 0.03). The control group increased their time run from pre-exposure test (M = 1499.3 s SD = 971.6 s) to post-exposure test (M = 1579.6 s, SD = 690.3 s), compared to the vape group’s increase from pre-exposure test (M = 1442.5 s, SD = 710.0 s) to post-exposure test (M = 1478.1 s, SD = 576.3 s). Some behavioral observations in the rats, such as seeking more physical assistance while running or accumulating shocks faster than before exposure, indicate an immeasurable effect of vaping on fatigue. CONCLUSION: Ten minutes of exposure to e-cigarette vapor per day for 7 consecutive days isn’t enough to significantly affect exercise performance in rats. Further studies will investigate how much e-cigarette vapor exposure is needed to have an effect on exercise performance, as well as its ability to affect aerobic versus anaerobic exercise.

Recommended Citation

Farrar, Miranda N. and Morales, Nancy (2025) "Examining the Relationship of E-Cigarette Vapor Exposure and Exercise Performance in Aerobically Trained Rats," International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings: Vol. 2: Iss. 17, Article 49.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijesab/vol2/iss17/49