Date of Graduation

5-2026

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science in Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

Degree Level

Undergraduate

Department

Animal Science

Advisor/Mentor

Yan Huang

Committee Member

Lauren Rogers

Second Committee Member

Derico Setyabrata

Abstract

Nicotine exposure has significantly increased due to the rising use of e-cigarettes, posing potential health risks not only to users but also to animals exposed to nicotine vapor. While nicotine has been extensively studied for its effects on human health, its impact on animal muscle cells remains largely unexplored. This study aims to investigate the effects of nicotine on muscle cell cultures, specifically focusing on morphological changes, gene expression, and differentiation. Using C2C12 myoblasts as a model system, the experiment evaluated how varying concentrations of nicotine influence muscle stem cell growth and regeneration. Findings show that lower concentrations of nicotine promote morphological changes, specifically myotube length. All concentrations of nicotine resulted in a suppression of key myogenic gene expression in RT-qPCR. In conclusion, there is a potential risk to domestic animals exposed to nicotine vapors beyond the individual user which emphasizes the need for increased awareness. Future studies should focus on a broader range of nicotine concentrations and long-term effects on the whole animals. These results could help to inform veterinary practices and public health policies, ensuring better awareness of nicotine exposure’s consequences in animals.

Keywords

nicotine; differentiation; myotubes; gene expression; morphology

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