# Research Project 1 : Effects of Sweet and Coolant Flavors on Nicotine Choice, Consumption and Seeking

> **NIH NIH U54** · YALE UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $700,340

## Abstract

Abstract: Project #1
The proportion of users of sweet-flavored and mentholated tobacco products (including menthol cigarettes) has
increased dramatically, especially within the adolescent population, raising concerns that flavors may facilitate
the initiation of tobacco product use and promote nicotine addiction. An additional concern is the recent
introduction of synthetic cooling agents that may have effects similar to menthol. Children and adolescents are
conditioned, through prior experience, to associate sweet and cooling flavors (fruit, candy, mints, etc.) with high
sweetener content (sugar or artificial sweeteners). However, the role of flavors in the initiation of tobacco product
use is difficult to study in humans, especially in adolescents and never-users. The goal of this project is to use
our adolescent and adult rodent models of inhaled and smokeless tobacco product use, and of oral flavor-paired
nicotine self-administration, to examine whether sweet and cooling flavors in tobacco products enhance nicotine
use behavior and addiction. We will determine whether early flavor exposure and early flavorant associations
with sweeteners influence subsequent nicotine choice and initiation, maintenance, and relapse to paired nicotine
and flavorant intake. In Aim 1, we will examine sweet and cooling flavor exposure and conditioning effects
on nicotine choice and use. In this aim, we will examine (A) the effects of conditioning to sweet flavors and
cooling flavors on nicotine aversion and flavor preference and (B) the effects of characterizing sweet and cooling
flavor exposure on the initiation and maintenance of nicotine-taking and relapse to nicotine-seeking. We will also
use in-vivo voltammetry to examine reward-related dopamine signaling responses to flavorants, as these signals
could serve as a biomarker for the ability of flavorants to enhance nicotine use and addiction. In Aim 2, we will
examine the effects of synthetic cooling agents on respiratory irritation caused by electronic cigarette
vapors – effects that could potentially facilitate nicotine intake and use. The results of this work; (1) will provide
the FDA with understanding of sweet and cooling flavor effects on the initiation and persistence of nicotine taking,
and (2) could be used to guide policy decision on the regulation of sweet and cooling flavors in tobacco products.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10242018
- **Project number:** 5U54DA036151-09
- **Recipient organization:** YALE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Nii A Addy
- **Activity code:** U54 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $700,340
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2013-09-30 → 2023-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10242018

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10242018, Research Project 1 : Effects of Sweet and Coolant Flavors on Nicotine Choice, Consumption and Seeking (5U54DA036151-09). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10242018. Licensed CC0.

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