Neurotoxicology of cannabis and THC: a review of chronic exposure studies in animals.
Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior November 1991 DOI: 10.1016/0091-3057(91)90380-k (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Rats and rhesus monkeys exposed to cannabinoids |
| Interventions | delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) marijuana extracts |
| Duration | At least three months in rodents; up to 12 months of daily exposure in monkeys |
| Topics | Cannabis |
| Key findings | The review suggests that age during exposure and duration of exposure may be critical determinants of cannabinoid neurotoxicity. In peripubertal rodents, at least three months of cannabinoid administration (8-10% of a rat's lifespan) was required to produce neurotoxic effects, while monkey studies of up to 12 months of daily exposure have not consistently reported neurotoxicity and longer exposures have not been studied. |
Abstract
Several laboratories have reported that chronic exposure to delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or marijuana extracts persistently altered the structure and function of the rat hippocampus, a paleocortical brain region involved with learning and memory processes in both rats and humans. Certain choices must be made in designing experiments to evaluate cannabis neurotoxicity, such as dose, route of administration, duration of exposure, age at onset of exposure, species of subjects, whether or how long to allow withdrawal, and which endpoints or biomarkers of neurotoxicity to measure. A review of the literature suggests that both age during exposure and duration of exposure may be critical determinants of neurotoxicity. Cannabinoid administration for at least three months (8-10% of a rat's lifespan) was required to produce neurotoxic effects in peripubertal rodents, which would be comparable to about three years exposure in rhesus monkeys and seven to ten years in humans. Studies of monkeys after up to 12 months of daily exposure have not consistently reported neurotoxicity, and the results of longer exposures have not yet been studied.
Comparable studies
Other preclinical and animal studies on cannabis, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 16
- Age-related differences in the impact of cannabis use on the brain and cognition: a systematic review European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience January 24, 2019
- MDMA & Cannabis: A Mini-Review of Cognitive, Behavioral, and Neurobiological Effects of Co-Consumption Current Drug Abuse Reviews June 1, 2011
- Cannabis Use Characteristics Associated with Self-Reported Cognitive Function in a Nationally Representative U.S. sample Substance Use & Misuse April 25, 2024
- The Role of Cannabis in the Development of Psychosis. Turk psikiyatri dergisi = Turkish journal of psychiatry 2024
- THC and CBD: Villain versus Hero? Insights into Adolescent Exposure. International Journal of Molecular Sciences March 9, 2023
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