Perinatal delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol exposure disrupts social and open field behavior in adult male rats.
R J Newsom, S J Kelly
Neurotoxicology and Teratology 2008 DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2007.12.007 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Pregnant Long Evans rats and their male offspring |
| Intervention | Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta9-THC) |
| Dose | 2 mg/kg of natural Delta9-THC, administered twice daily by subcutaneous (s.c.) injection |
| Duration | Gestational day 1 through 22, then postnatal day 2 through 10; testing started on postnatal day 90 |
| Measures | open field activity, active social interaction, forced swim test |
| Topics | Cannabis |
| Key findings | Male rats exposed to delta-9-THC before and shortly after birth spent less time in the inner area of an open field and investigated more in a social interaction test than controls, while forced swim test performance did not differ. The authors suggest perinatal THC exposure may increase susceptibility to anxious behavior and alter social functioning in adult offspring. |
Abstract
Marijuana is the most frequently used illegal drug among women of reproductive age, but little is known about the consequences of using marijuana during pregnancy. Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta9-THC), one of the active chemicals in marijuana, has been shown to cross the placental barrier easily. In this study, pregnant Long Evans rats were assigned to one of three treatment groups (Delta9-THC-exposed, vehicle control, and non-treated control) on day 1 of gestation. Drug exposure consisted of 2 mg/kg of natural Delta9-THC, administered twice daily by subcutaneous (s.c.) injection, from gestational day 1 through 22. Pups continued to receive drug exposure via s.c. injection from postnatal day 2 through 10. Male rats from each group were tested starting on postnatal day 90 in a battery of tests which included open field activity, active social interaction, and the forced swim test. There were no significant differences in weight gained by dams or weight of offspring when compared to controls. Delta9-THC-exposed rats showed decreased time in the inner part of the open field and an increase in investigation time in the test of social interaction compared to both control groups. There were no differences among groups in the forced swim test. Perinatal Delta9-THC exposure may result in increased susceptibility to anxious behavior and alter social functioning in adult offspring.
Comparable studies
Other preclinical and animal studies on cannabis, most cited first.