Chronic exposure to inhaled vaporized cannabis high in Δ9-THC alters brain structure in adult female mice.
Autumn Taylor, Amanda Nweke, Veniesha Vincent, Marvellous Oke, Praveen P Kulkarni, Craig F. Ferris
Frontiers in Neuroscience 2023 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1139309 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Exploratory experimental animal study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Adult female mice |
| Interventions | Vaporized cannabis (10.3% THC and 0.05% CBD) Placebo |
| Dose | 10.3% THC and 0.05% CBD |
| Duration | 21 days of daily exposure |
| Measures | Voxel-based morphometry, Diffusion weighted imaging MRI |
| Topics | Cannabis |
| Keywords | Diffusion weighted imaging Dopaminergic system Limbic cortex Prefrontal cortex pfc Voxel-based morphometry |
| Key findings | Daily vaporized cannabis exposure for 21 days was associated with volumetric changes in forebrain regions including the prefrontal cortex, accumbens, ventral pallidum, and limbic cortex, with matching changes in water diffusivity suggesting altered gray matter microarchitecture. The authors argue these findings are consistent with clinical cannabis use disorder data and that dopaminergic sensitivity raises concerns about abuse liability in drug-naive adult females starting chronic use. |
Abstract
The medical and recreational use of cannabis has increased in the United States. Its chronic use can have detrimental effects on the neurobiology of the brain-effects that are age-dependent. This was an exploratory study looking at the effects of chronically inhaled vaporized cannabis on brain structure in adult female mice. Adult mice were exposed daily to vaporized cannabis (10.3% THC and 0.05% CBD) or placebo for 21 days. Following cessation of treatment mice were examined for changes in brain structure using voxel-based morphometry and diffusion weighted imaging MRI. Data from each imaging modality were registered to a 3D mouse MRI atlas with 139 brain areas. Mice showed volumetric changes in the forebrain particularly the prefrontal cortex, accumbens, ventral pallidum, and limbic cortex. Many of these same brain areas showed changes in water diffusivity suggesting alterations in gray matter microarchitecture. These data are consistent with much of the clinical findings on cannabis use disorder. The sensitivity of the dopaminergic system to the daily exposure of vaporized cannabis raises concerns for abuse liability in drug naïve adult females that initiate chronic cannabis use.
Comparable studies
Other preclinical and animal studies on cannabis, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 4
- Developmental changes in brain structure and function following exposure to oral LSD during adolescence. Scientific Reports August 11, 2024
- Sex-dependent developmental changes in behavior, brain structure, functional connectivity, and sensory perception following exposure to psilocybin during adolescence Neuropsychopharmacology February 18, 2026
- Chronic exposure to inhaled vaporized cannabis high in Δ9-THC suppresses Adderall-induced brain activity. Frontiers in Pharmacology 2024
- Changes in brain structure and function following exposure to oral LSD during adolescence: A multimodal MRI study
Cites 10
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