Gender-dependent behavioral and biochemical effects of adolescent delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol in adult maternally deprived rats

Zamberletti, Erica; Prini, Pamela; Speziali, Simona; Gabaglio, Marina; Solinas, M.; Parolaro, Daniela; Rubino, Tiziana

doi:10.1016/j.neuroscience.2011.11.038

Cited by 99 publications

(91 citation statements)

References 88 publications

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“…CB1-R mRNA transcript levels have been reported to be higher in anterior pituitary [34] and lower in cerebellum [35], prefrontal cortex, amygdala, and hippocampus [36] in males, compared to females. Greater CB1-R density has been observed in male animals in mesencephalon [37], hypothalamus [38], hippocampus [38, 39], and prefrontal cortex [40], compared to females, with mixed results in amygdala [38, 40], though other evidence suggests greater widespread CB1-R density in females, compared to males [41]. In humans, in vivo positron emission tomography (PET) imaging demonstrated that CB1-R availability is lower in healthy men compared to healthy women in most regions [42, 43], though some evidence indicates higher CB1-R availability in men, compared to women, in the cortico-striatal-thalamic-cortical circuit [44].…”

Section: Sex Differences In the Endocannabinoid Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mechanisms Underlying Sex Differences in Cannabis Use

et al. 2017

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Purpose of the Review Cannabis is the most commonly used illicit substance worldwide. In recent decades, highly concentrated products have flooded the market, and prevalence rates have increased. Gender differences exist in cannabis use, as men have higher prevalence of both cannabis use and cannabis use disorder (CUD), while women progress more rapidly from first use to CUD. This paper reviews findings from preclinical and human studies examining the sex-specific neurobiological underpinnings of cannabis use and CUD, and associations with psychiatric symptoms. Recent Findings Sex differences exist in the endocannabinoid system, in cannabis exposure effects on brain structure and function, and in the co-occurrence of cannabis use with symptoms of anxiety, depression and schizophrenia. In female cannabis users, anxiety symptoms correlate with larger amygdala volume and social anxiety disorder symptoms correlate with CUD symptoms. Female cannabis users are reported to be especially vulnerable to earlier onset of schizophrenia, and mixed trends emerge in the correlation of depressive symptoms with cannabis exposure in females and males. Summary As prevalence of cannabis use may continue to increase given the shifting policy landscape regarding marijuana laws, understanding the neurobiological mechanisms of cannabis exposure in females and males is key. Examining these mechanisms may help inform future research on sex-specific pharmacological and behavioral interventions for women and men with high-risk cannabis use, comorbid psychiatric disease, and CUD.

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Section: Sex Differences In the Endocannabinoid Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mechanisms Underlying Sex Differences in Cannabis Use

et al. 2017

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“…This pro tocol mimics heavy Cannabis use according to the human equivalent dose proposed by the United States Food and Drug Administration and the average content of THC in a marijuana cigarette; our first dose roughly corresponded to 1 marijuana cigarette containing 7% THC, the second dose corresponded to 2, and the higher dose corresponded to 4 marijuana cigarettes. 24 However, according to data coming from the United States and Europe, we now know that strains of cannabis with a THC content of up to 14% are also used. In this case, our treatment would mimic the consump tion of half (first dose), 1 (second dose) and 2 marijuana ciga rettes (third dose).…”

Section: Drugs and Treatmentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Adolescent THC exposure in female rats leads to cognitive deficits through a mechanism involving chromatin modifications in the prefrontal cortex

Prini

Rusconi

Zamberletti

et al. 2018

jpn

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“…Studies that examined the effects of both ES and cannabinoids on behavioral and physiological responses in adulthood suggested that early maternal deprivation and adolescent cannabinoid exposure exert distinct sex-dependent long-term behavioral and physiological modifications that could predispose to the development of certain neuropsychiatric disorders (LlorenteBerzal et al 2011;Ló pez-Gallardo et al 2012;Zamberletti et al 2012). In general, there are sex differences in emotional behaviors and in response to cannabinoids (Maren et al 1994;Viveros et al 2012).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Cannabinoids reverse the effects of early stress on neurocognitive performance in adulthood

2016

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Early life stress (ES) significantly increases predisposition to psychopathologies. Cannabinoids may cause cognitive deficits and exacerbate the effects of ES. Nevertheless, the endocannabinoid system has been suggested as a therapeutic target for the treatment of stress-and anxiety-related disorders. Here we examined whether cannabinoids administered during "late adolescence" (extensive cannabis use in humans at the ages 18 -25) could reverse the long-term adverse effects of ES on neurocognitive function in adulthood. Male and female rats were exposed to ES during post-natal days (P) 7-14, injected with the cannabinoid CB1/2 receptor agonist WIN55,212-2 (WIN; 1.2 mg/kg, i.p.) for 2 wk during late adolescence (P45 -60) and tested in adulthood (P90) for working memory, anxiety, and alterations in CB1 receptors (CB1r), and glucocorticoid receptors (GRs) in the stress circuit [hippocampus, prefrontal cortex (PFC), and basolateral amygdala (BLA)]. ES males and females exhibited impaired performance in short-term memory in adulthood in the spatial location and social recognition tasks; males were also impaired in the novel object recognition task. WIN administered during late adolescence prevented these stress-induced impairments and reduced anxiety levels. WIN normalized the ES-induced up-regulation in PFC-GRs and CA1 -CB1r in females. In males, WIN normalized the ES-induced up-regulation in PFC-GR and down-regulation in BLA-CB1r. There is a crucial role of the endocannabinoid system in the effects of early life stress on behavior at adulthood. Differences in recognition memory and in the expression of GRs and CB1r in the fear circuit suggest sex differences in the mechanism underlying coping with stress.

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Gender-dependent behavioral and biochemical effects of adolescent delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol in adult maternally deprived rats

Cited by 99 publications

References 88 publications

Mechanisms Underlying Sex Differences in Cannabis Use

Mechanisms Underlying Sex Differences in Cannabis Use

Adolescent THC exposure in female rats leads to cognitive deficits through a mechanism involving chromatin modifications in the prefrontal cortex

Cannabinoids reverse the effects of early stress on neurocognitive performance in adulthood

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