Chronic pubertal, but not adult chronic cannabinoid treatment impairs sensorimotor gating, recognition memory, and the performance in a progressive ra

Chronic pubertal, but not adult chronic cannabinoid treatment impairs sensorimotor gating, recognition memory, and the performance in a progressive ratio task in adult rats

Source: NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY Volume: 28 Issue: 10 Pages: 1760-1769 Published: OCT 2003

Abstract: There is evidence from studies in humans and animals that a vulnerable period for chronic cannabinoid administration exists during certain phases of development. The present study tested the hypothesis that long-lasting interference of cannabinoids with the developing endogenous cannabinoid system during puberty causes persistent behavioral alterations in adult rats. Chronic treatment with the synthetic cannabinoid agonist WIN 55,212-2 (WIN) (1.2 mg/kg) or vehicle was extended over 25 days either throughout the rats' puberty or for a similar time period in adult rats. The rats received 20 injections intraperitoneally (i.p.), which were not delivered regularly. Adult rats were tested for object recognition memory, performance in a progressive ratio (PR) operant behavior task, locomotor activity, and prepulse inhibition (PPI) of the acoustic startle response (ASR). PPI was significantly disrupted only by chronic peripubertal cannabinoid treatment. This long-lasting PPI deficit was reversed by the acute administration of the dopamine antagonist haloperidol. Furthermore, we found deficits in recognition memory of pubertal-treated rats and these animals showed lower break points in a PR schedule, whereas food preference and locomotion were not affected. Adult chronic cannabinoid treatment had no effect on the behaviors tested. Therefore, we conclude that puberty in rats is a vulnerable period with respect to the adverse effects of cannabinoid treatment. Since PPI deficits, object recognition memory impairments, and anhedonia/avolition are among the endophenotypes of schizophrenia, we propose chronic cannabinoid administration during pubertal development as an animal model for some aspects of the etiology of schizophrenia.
Document Type: Article
Language: English
Author Keywords: WIN 55,212-2; recognition memory; prepulse inhibition; reward; schizophrenia; puberty
KeyWords Plus: SPATIAL WORKING-MEMORY; OBJECT-RECOGNITION; PREFRONTAL CORTEX; PREPULSE INHIBITION; DOPAMINE NEURONS; CHRONIC DELTA(9)-TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL; SCHIZOPHRENIC-PATIENTS; RECEPTOR ANTAGONIST; ACOUSTIC STARTLE; BRAIN
Reprint Address: Schneider, M (reprint author), Univ Bremen, Dept Neuropharmacol, Brain Res Inst, POB 33 04 40, D-28334 Bremen, Germany
Addresses:
1. Univ Bremen, Dept Neuropharmacol, Brain Res Inst, D-28334 Bremen, Germany
Publisher: NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP, MACMILLAN BUILDING, 4 CRINAN ST, LONDON N1 9XW, ENGLAND
Subject Category: Neurosciences; Pharmacology & Pharmacy; Psychiatry
IDS Number: 729XG
ISSN: 0893-133X
DOI: 10.1038/sj.npp.1300225

MARIJUANA AND REPRODUCTION - EFFECTS ON PUBERTY AND PREGNANCY IN FEMALE RATS - EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS

MARIJUANA AND REPRODUCTION - EFFECTS ON PUBERTY AND PREGNANCY IN FEMALE RATS - EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS

Source: ANNALES D ENDOCRINOLOGIE Volume: 53 Issue: 1 Pages: 37-43 Published: 1992

Abstract: The main psychoactive component of marihuana, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabiol (THC), was investigated at low doses (1-mu-g/kg/day) on the onset of puberty, on the reproductive functions in female rats up to the seventy fifth to eightieth day of life as well as during the pregnancy.
The administration of THC caused a delay of the onset of puberty, and the number of ova on the day of first estrus was significantly lower in treated animals.

After puberty, alterations occured in the neuroendocrine functions of animals received THC: estrous cycles were irregular, serum LH level was decreased.

When THC was injected during the third week of pregnancy it caused a significant prolongation of the gestation period. There was 30 % stillbirths (v.s. 3 % in physiological saline treated rats). No teratological effects were observed. Serum LH, progesterone and prostaglandin contents were decreased.

The results indicate that marihuana causes alterations in reproductive functions. The importance of fight against drug abuse is emphasized.

Document Type: Article
Language: French
KeyWords Plus: DELTA-9 TETRAHYDRO-CANNABINOL; ADULT MALE-RATS; LUTEINIZING-HORMONE; SERUM LH; DELTA-9-TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL; ENDOCRINE; EXPOSURE; ALCOHOL; FSH
Reprint Address: WENGER, T (reprint author), FAC MED BUDAPEST, ANAT LAB 2, BUDAPEST, HUNGARY
Addresses:
1. FAC MED LILLE, HISTOL EMBRYOL & BIOL REPROD LAB, F-59045 LILLE, FRANCE
2. UNIV BORDEAUX 1, NEUROCYTOCHIM FONCTIONNELLE LAB, F-33405 TALENCE, FRANCE
3. INSERM, U156, F-59045 LILLE, FRANCE
Publisher: MASSON EDITEUR, 120 BLVD SAINT-GERMAIN, 75280 PARIS 06, FRANCE
Subject Category: Endocrinology & Metabolism
IDS Number: JA805
ISSN: 0003-4266