Nicotine is a highly addictive stimulant that causes an increase in blood pressure, heart rate, and inflammation in the lungs. The use of vaping devices has a grand effect on the youth today. Vapes and e-cigarettes are used for recreational purposes, yet this may affect adolescents by weakening their respiratory and immune systems. Nicotine and THC both have a strong impact on vapes. Experimental models in rodents suggest differences in behavior and physiological conditions when exposed to nicotine with or without THC. These changes can include differences in weight, bone density, bone strength, and respiratory rates. The aim of this study is to determine the effects of nicotine in the presence and absence of THC on the respiratory and immune systems in mice. Over the course of 12 weeks, both groups were treated with glycerin and propylene glycol. The 19 mice in the experimental group received nicotine on top of glycerin and propylene glycol. Animals were exposed to respective environments for 5 min/day, 2 days/week for a total of 12 weeks. Respiratory, minute volume, tidal volume, bone scans, fat percentage, and weights of the mice were collected weekly during the 12-week period. The vital organs were harvested for further examination: these tissues included serum, lung, brain, and femur. Data analysis showed significance in weight and fat percentage. Conclusions upon THC in addition to nicotine are in the process of being completed.
Dr. Vanderah
The graph indicates significant data in the fat percentage section of the vaping study.
