Impact of early-life lead exposure on adult delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol sensitivity in male and female C57BL6/J mice.
Daniel Garcy, Stephen L Boehm
Neurotoxicology and Teratology 2023 DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2023.107290 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Preclinical animal study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | C57BL6/J mice exposed to lead early in life |
| Intervention | Lead (Pb) |
| Measures | cannabinoid-induced tetrad |
| Topics | Cannabis |
| Keywords | Environmental toxins Leadpb Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinolthc sensitivity |
| Key points | Contrary to the hypothesis that lead exposure would decrease THC sensitivity, lead exposure increased THC sensitivity, but only in female mice. The authors propose that early-life lead exposure may predispose individuals to altered responses to cannabis, and they call for further work on THC self-administration and underlying mechanisms. |
Abstract
Environmental exposure to lead (Pb) and cannabis use are two of the largest public health issues facing modern society in the United States and around the world. Exposure to Pb in early life has been unequivocally shown to have negative impacts on development, and recent research is mounting showing that it may also predispose individuals for risk of developing substance use disorders (SUD). At the same time, societal and legal attitudes towards cannabis (the main psychoactive component of which is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) have been shifting, and many American states have legalized the recreational use of cannabis. It is also the 3rd most widely used drug of abuse in the US, and rates of cannabis use disorder are on the rise. Here we establish a link between early life Pb exposure and later THC-related behavior in C57BL6/J mice, as has been demonstrated for other drugs of abuse. The study seeks to answer whether Pb exposure affects physiological/behavioral THC sensitivity (as measured by the cannabinoid-induced tetrad). It was hypothesized that Pb exposure would decrease THC sensitivity and that sex-dependent effects of Pb-exposure and THC would be observed. Interestingly, results showed that THC sensitivity was increased by Pb exposure, but only in female mice. Future research will fully explore the implications of these findings, namely how these effects impact THC self-administration and the mechanism(s) by which developmental Pb exposure produces these effects.
Comparable studies
Other preclinical and animal studies on cannabis, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cites 5
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