Propylene glycol, a major electronic cigarette constituent, attenuates the adverse effects of high-dose nicotine as measured by intracranial self-stimulation in rats.

BACKGROUND: Non-nicotine tobacco constituents may contribute to the abuse liability of tobacco products. We previously reported that electronic cigarette (EC) refill liquids containing nicotine and a range of non-nicotine constituents attenuated the anhedonic/aversive effects of nicotine in an intracranial self-stimulation (ICSS) model. The alcohol propylene glycol (PG) is a primary ingredient in these and other EC liquids, yet its abuse potential has not been established. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effects of parenteral administration of PG alone and PG combined with nicotine on ICSS in rats.

METHODS AND RESULTS: PG alone did not affect ICSS at concentrations up to 100%. PG (25% or 60%) did not affect nicotine's reinforcement-enhancing (ICSS threshold-decreasing) effects at low to moderate nicotine doses, but attenuated nicotine's reinforcement-attenuating/aversive (ICSS threshold-increasing) effects at a high nicotine dose. PG concentrations similar to those in EC liquid doses used in our previous studies (1% or 3%) modestly attenuated the ICSS threshold-elevating effects of a high nicotine dose.

CONCLUSIONS: PG attenuated elevations in ICSS thresholds induced by high-dose nicotine, which may reflect an attenuation of nicotine's acute aversive/anhedonic and/or toxic effects. PG may have contributed to the attenuated ICSS threshold-elevating effects of EC liquids reported previously. Further examination of PG in models of addiction and toxicity is needed to understand the consequences of EC use and to inform the development of EC product standards by the FDA.