Adult Cellular Neuroadaptations Induced by Adolescent THC Exposure in Female Rats Are Rescued by Enhancing Anandamide Signaling.
Bruna Cuccurazzu, Erica Zamberletti, Cristiano Nazzaro, Pamela Prini, Massimo Trusel, Mariagrazia Grilli, Daniela Parolaro, Raffaella Tonini, Tiziana Rubino
The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology November 1, 2018 DOI: 10.1093/ijnp/pyy057 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Preclinical animal study (biochemical, morphofunctional, and electrophysiological experiments in rats) Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Female rats exposed to Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol during adolescence |
| Interventions | Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol URB597 |
| Topics | Cannabis |
| Key findings | Adult URB597 treatment rescued Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol-induced deficits in endocannabinoid-mediated signaling and synaptic plasticity in the prefrontal cortex and restored functional neurogenesis in the hippocampal dentate gyrus; the rescue of depressive-like behavior required CB1 cannabinoid receptor activity. The authors argue that positive modulation of endocannabinoid signaling could be a strategy for treating mood alterations secondary to adolescent cannabis use. |
Abstract
In rodent models, chronic exposure to cannabis' psychoactive ingredient, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol, during adolescence leads to abnormal behavior in adulthood. In female rats, this maladaptive behavior is characterized by endophenotypes for depressive-like and psychotic-like disorders as well as cognitive deficits. We recently reported that most depressive-like behaviors triggered by adolescent Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol exposure can be rescued by manipulating endocannabinoid signaling in adulthood with the anandamide-inactivating enzyme FAAH inhibitor, URB597. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying URB597's antidepressant-like properties remain to be established. Here we examined the impact of adult URB597 treatment on the cellular and functional neuroadaptations that occurred in the prefrontal cortex and dentate gyrus of the hippocampus upon Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol during adolescence through biochemical, morphofunctional, and electrophysiological studies. We found that the positive action of URB597 is associated with the rescue of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol-induced deficits in endocannabinoid-mediated signaling and synaptic plasticity in the prefrontal cortex and the recovery of functional neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. Moreover, the rescue property of URB597 on depressive-like behavior requires the activity of the CB1 cannabinoid receptor. By providing novel insights into the cellular and molecular mechanisms of URB597 at defined cortical and hippocampal circuits, our results highlight that positive modulation of endocannabinoid-signaling could be a strategy for treating mood alterations secondary to adolescent cannabis use.
Comparable studies
Other preclinical and animal studies on cannabis, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 9
- Effects of psychedelics on neurogenesis and broader neuroplasticity: a systematic review. Mol Med December 19, 2024
- Effects of psychedelics on neurogenesis and brain plasticity: A systematic review bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) July 20, 2023
- Adolescent female rats are resistant to the affective and cognitive impacts of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol exposure despite long-lasting molecular and neuronal disturbances in the hippocampal-hypothalamic network. Psychopharmacology November 1, 2025
- Cannabis in Adolescence: Lasting Cognitive Alterations and Underlying Mechanisms. Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research February 2023
- Psychotropic Effects of Cannabis Plant-Based Therapeutics, Volume 1 2023
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