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Di Bartolomeo M, Čerňanová A, Petrušová V, Di Martino S, Hodosy J, Drago F, Micale V, D'Addario C. DNA methylation at cannabinoid type 1 and dopamine D2 receptor genes in saliva samples of psychotic subjects: Is there an effect of Cannabis use? Pharmacol Res 2024; 208:107343. [PMID: 39127265 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2024.107343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2024] [Revised: 08/06/2024] [Accepted: 08/07/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024]
Abstract
Psychosis is a characterizing feature of many mental disorders that dramatically affects human thoughts and perceptions, influencing the ability to distinguish between what is real and what is not. Both genetic and environmental factors, such as stressful events or drug use, play a pivotal role in the development of symptomatology and therefore changes in the epigenome may be of relevance in modeling a psychotic phenotype. According to the well-documented dysregulation of endocannabinoid and dopaminergic system genes in schizophrenia, we investigated DNA methylation cannabinoid type 1 receptor (CNR1) and dopamine D2 receptor (DRD2) genes in saliva samples from psychotic subjects using pyrosequencing. The epigenetic mark was significantly higher and directly correlated for both genes in psychotic subjects compared to healthy controls. We also showed that these DNA methylation levels were lower in psychotic subjects reporting current delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) consumption, a well-known risk factor for developing psychosis throughout the lifespan, resembling those of controls at least for the DRD2 gene. Overall, our data confirm the key role of CNR1 and DRD2 gene regulation in psychosis and suggest DNA methylation levels at specific CpG sites as potential biomarkers, but just in those psychotic subjects not consuming THC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Di Bartolomeo
- Department of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, Teramo 64100, Italy.
| | - Andrea Čerňanová
- Psychiatric Department SMU, Slovak Medical University and University Hospital Bratislava, Ružinov, Bratislava 82101, Slovakia
| | - Veronika Petrušová
- Psychiatric Department SMU, Slovak Medical University and University Hospital Bratislava, Ružinov, Bratislava 82101, Slovakia
| | - Serena Di Martino
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Catania, Catania 95123, Italy
| | - Július Hodosy
- Emergency Department, University Hospital Bratislava, Ružinov, Bratislava 82101, Slovakia; Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava 81372, Slovakia
| | - Filippo Drago
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Catania, Catania 95123, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Micale
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Catania, Catania 95123, Italy
| | - Claudio D'Addario
- Department of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, Teramo 64100, Italy; Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm 17177, Sweden.
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Young-Wolff KC, Adams SR, Alexeeff SE, Zhu Y, Chojolan E, Slama NE, Does MB, Silver LD, Ansley D, Castellanos CL, Avalos LA. Prenatal Cannabis Use and Maternal Pregnancy Outcomes. JAMA Intern Med 2024:2821358. [PMID: 39037795 PMCID: PMC11264060 DOI: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2024.3270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024]
Abstract
Importance Many studies have evaluated whether in utero cannabis exposure is associated with fetal and neonatal outcomes, yet little is known about whether prenatal cannabis use is associated with maternal health outcomes during pregnancy. Objective To evaluate whether prenatal cannabis use is associated with maternal health outcomes during pregnancy. Design, Setting, and Participants This population-based retrospective cohort study included pregnancies in Northern California from January 2011 to December 2019 that lasted 20 weeks or longer and were screened for prenatal cannabis use. Exposures Prenatal cannabis use was defined as any self-reported use during early pregnancy or a positive toxicology test result based on universal screening at entrance to prenatal care (approximately 8-10 weeks' gestation). Self-reported frequency of use (daily, weekly, monthly or less, never, unknown), use defined only by self-report, and use defined only by toxicology test results were examined. Main Outcomes and Measures Electronic health record data were used to define the following outcomes: gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, eclampsia, gestational diabetes, gestational weight gain greater and less than guidelines, placenta previa, placental abruption, placenta accreta, and severe maternal morbidity. Adjusted risk ratios (aRRs) were calculated using a modified Poisson regression. Results The sample (n = 316 722 pregnancies; 250 221 unique individuals) included 84 039 (26.5%) Asian/Pacific Islander, 20 053 (6.3%) Black, 83 145 (26.3%) Hispanic, and 118 333 (37.4%) White individuals; the mean (SD) age was 30.6 (5.4) years. Overall, 20 053 (6.3%) screened positive for prenatal cannabis use; 2.9% were positive by self-report, 5.3% by toxicology testing, and 1.8% by both. The frequency of cannabis use was 1930 (0.6%) daily, 2345 (0.7%) weekly, 4892 (1.5%) monthly or less, and 10 886 (3.4%) unknown. Prenatal cannabis use was associated with greater risk of gestational hypertension (aRR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.13-1.21), preeclampsia (aRR, 1.08; 95% CI, 1.01-1.15), weight gain less than (aRR, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.01-1.08) and greater than (aRR, 1.09; 95% CI, 1.08-1.10) guidelines, and placental abruption (aRR, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.05-1.36). The pattern of results was similar when defining prenatal cannabis use only by self-report or only by toxicology testing, and associations between the frequency of prenatal cannabis use and outcomes varied with outcome. Conclusions and Relevance The results of this cohort study suggest that prenatal cannabis use was associated with several adverse maternal health outcomes during pregnancy. Continued research is needed to understand whether characteristics of prenatal cannabis use (eg, dose, mode, and timing) moderate these associations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly C. Young-Wolff
- Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco
| | - Sara R. Adams
- Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland
| | | | - Yeyi Zhu
- Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland
| | | | - Natalie E. Slama
- Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland
| | - Monique B. Does
- Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland
| | | | - Deborah Ansley
- Regional Offices, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland
| | | | - Lyndsay A. Avalos
- Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland
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Navarro D, Gasparyan A, Navarrete F, Manzanares J. Fetal Cannabinoid Syndrome: Behavioral and Brain Alterations of the Offspring Exposed to Dronabinol during Gestation and Lactation. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:7453. [PMID: 39000559 PMCID: PMC11242182 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25137453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2024] [Revised: 07/03/2024] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
This study establishes a fetal cannabinoid syndrome model to evaluate the effects of high doses of dronabinol (synthetic THC) during pregnancy and lactation on behavioral and brain changes in male and female progeny and their susceptibility to alcohol consumption. Female C57BL/6J mice received dronabinol (10 mg/kg/12 h, p.o.) from gestational day 5 to postnatal day 21. On the weaning day, the offspring were separated by sex, and on postnatal day 60, behavioral and neurobiological changes were analyzed. Mice exposed to dronabinol exhibited increased anxiogenic and depressive-like behaviors and cognitive impairment. These behaviors were associated with neurodevelopment-related gene and protein expression changes, establishing, for the first time, an association among behavioral changes, cognitive impairment, and neurobiological alterations. Exposure to dronabinol during pregnancy and lactation disrupted the reward system, leading to increased motivation to consume alcohol in the offspring. All these modifications exhibited sex-dependent patterns. These findings reveal the pronounced adverse effects on fetal neurodevelopment resulting from cannabis use during pregnancy and lactation and strongly suggest the need to prevent mothers who use cannabis in this period from the severe and permanent side effects on behavior and brain development that may occur in their children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Navarro
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad Miguel Hernández-CSIC, Avda. de Ramón y Cajal s/n, San Juan de Alicante, 03550 Alicante, Spain
- Redes de Investigación Cooperativa Orientada a Resultados en Salud (RICORS), Red de Investigación en Atención Primaria de Adicciones (RIAPAd), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, MICINN and FEDER, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria y Biomédica de Alicante (ISABIAL), 03010 Alicante, Spain
| | - Ani Gasparyan
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad Miguel Hernández-CSIC, Avda. de Ramón y Cajal s/n, San Juan de Alicante, 03550 Alicante, Spain
- Redes de Investigación Cooperativa Orientada a Resultados en Salud (RICORS), Red de Investigación en Atención Primaria de Adicciones (RIAPAd), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, MICINN and FEDER, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria y Biomédica de Alicante (ISABIAL), 03010 Alicante, Spain
| | - Francisco Navarrete
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad Miguel Hernández-CSIC, Avda. de Ramón y Cajal s/n, San Juan de Alicante, 03550 Alicante, Spain
- Redes de Investigación Cooperativa Orientada a Resultados en Salud (RICORS), Red de Investigación en Atención Primaria de Adicciones (RIAPAd), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, MICINN and FEDER, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria y Biomédica de Alicante (ISABIAL), 03010 Alicante, Spain
| | - Jorge Manzanares
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad Miguel Hernández-CSIC, Avda. de Ramón y Cajal s/n, San Juan de Alicante, 03550 Alicante, Spain
- Redes de Investigación Cooperativa Orientada a Resultados en Salud (RICORS), Red de Investigación en Atención Primaria de Adicciones (RIAPAd), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, MICINN and FEDER, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria y Biomédica de Alicante (ISABIAL), 03010 Alicante, Spain
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Torres J, Miller C, Apostol M, Gross J, Maxwell JR. The impact of recreational cannabinoid legalization on utilization in a pregnant population. Front Public Health 2024; 12:1278834. [PMID: 38444440 PMCID: PMC10912290 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1278834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Marijuana potency and utilization both continue to increase across the United States. While the overall prevalence of cannabinoid utilization during pregnancy has been surveyed in various studies, the direct impact of changing governmental policies on pregnancy use is less characterized. Thus, we aimed to investigate how the legalization of recreational cannabinoid products impacted use during pregnancy in the state of New Mexico. Methods Participants who had a live birth during two study epochs were included: pre-legalization (Epoch 1: 1 January 2019-31 March 2021) and post-legalization (Epoch 2: 1 November 2021-30 November 2022). Participants were further divided into case group [prenatal cannabinoid exposure (PCE)] vs. control (no PCE), with cases being identified by documented self-report or a positive laboratory toxicology test for cannabinoid use during pregnancy. Results A total of 1,191 maternal/infant dyads were included in Epoch 1, and 378 maternal/infant dyads were included in Epoch 2. In Epoch 1, 788 dyads were controls with 403 cases, while Epoch 2 had 292 controls and 86 cases. Interestingly there was a significant decrease in self-report or positive laboratory toxicology tests in Epoch 2 compared to Epoch 1. Infants born following PCE in both Epoch groups were more commonly born via Cesarean section, had significantly smaller birth weight, length, and head circumference as well as significantly lower Apgar scores at 1 and 5 min. Conclusion The finding of decreased reported cannabinoid use in the post-legalization group is contradictory to previous studies which have shown increased rates of cannabinoid use after legalization. This could be due to multiple factors including changes in screening practices, the COVID-19 pandemic, and lack of commercialization of THC products. Additional studies are needed to further characterize how changing governmental policies impacts utilization during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob Torres
- School of Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Colton Miller
- School of Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Michael Apostol
- School of Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Jessica Gross
- Clinical and Translational Science Center, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Jessie R. Maxwell
- Department of Pediatrics, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
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Ladegard K, Bhatia D. Impact of Cannabis Legalization on Adolescent Cannabis Use. Psychiatr Clin North Am 2023; 46:635-646. [PMID: 37879828 DOI: 10.1016/j.psc.2023.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
Because of substantial limitations in available national data, such as inconsistencies among surveys and small sample sizes, the increased prevalence of cannabis use among adolescents since recreational legalization has not been directly observed. Nevertheless, both usage frequency and product potency have significantly increased, alongside alternative routes of delivery to smoking, such as vaping cannabis. Moreover, certain populations may be especially vulnerable to the effects of legalization. Regardless of differing state-level cannabis legalization status, the adverse consequences of cannabis on youth have clear negative impacts on mental health, medical symptoms, educational outcomes, and increased risk of addiction to other substances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristie Ladegard
- Denver Health, University of Colorado, 601 Broadway 7th Floor, MC7779, Denver, CO 80203, USA.
| | - Devika Bhatia
- University of Colorado, 13007 East 19th Place, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
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Talavera-Barber MM, Morehead E, Ziegler K, Hockett C, Elliott AJ. Prenatal cannabinoid exposure and early language development. Front Pediatr 2023; 11:1290707. [PMID: 38078314 PMCID: PMC10702953 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2023.1290707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction The effect of prenatal cannabis exposure (PCE) on childhood neurodevelopment remains poorly understood. There is a paucity of studies describing the neurodevelopment impact of PCE in infancy. The Mullen Scale of Early Learning (MSEL) is a cognitive screening tool that can be used from birth to 68 months and includes language and motor domains. Here we aim to explore the association between PCE during pregnancy and neurodevelopmental outcomes at 12 months of age. Methods Participants were pregnant persons/infant pairs enrolled in The Safe Passage Study, a large prospective cohort study. Inclusion criteria included data available on PCE with associated MSEL scores at 12 months of age. Exposed participants were defined as early exposure (1st trimester only) or late exposure (2nd or 3rd trimester) and were randomly matched with unexposed participants. Multiple linear regression models were performed to test associations between prenatal cannabis exposure and the five Mullen subscales: gross motor, fine motor, expressive language, receptive language, and visual reception. Results Sixty-nine exposed and 138 randomly matched unexposed infants were included in the analyses. Mothers of children with PCE were younger with the mean age 23.7 years for early exposure (n = 51) and 22.8 years for late exposure (n = 18). Maternal characteristics with prenatal cannabis use include a high-school education, American Indian or Alaska Native descent, lower socioeconomic status and co-use of tobacco. There were no gestational age or sex difference among the groups. Expressive (95% CI: 2.54-12.76; p = 0.0036,) and receptive language scores (95% CI: 0.39-8.72; p = 0.0322) were significantly increased between late-exposed infants compared to unexposed infants following adjustment for covariates. Gross motor scores (95% CI: 1.75-13; p = 0.0105) were also significantly increased for early-exposed infants with no difference in visual reception scores. Conclusion Preclinical studies have shown abnormal brain connectivity in offspring exposed to cannabis affecting emotional regulation, hyperactivity, and language development. Results from this study link PCE to altered early language development within the first year of life. Exposed infants demonstrated increased expressive and receptive language scores at 12 months of age, which can translate to better performance in school. However, further research is needed to determine the implications of these results later in childhood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria M. Talavera-Barber
- Avera Research Institute, Sioux Falls, SD, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine, Sioux Falls, SD, United States
| | - Evlyn Morehead
- Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Katherine Ziegler
- Avera Research Institute, Sioux Falls, SD, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine, Sioux Falls, SD, United States
| | - Christine Hockett
- Avera Research Institute, Sioux Falls, SD, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine, Sioux Falls, SD, United States
| | - Amy J. Elliott
- Avera Research Institute, Sioux Falls, SD, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine, Sioux Falls, SD, United States
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Sandini TM, Onofrychuk TJ, Roebuck AJ, Hammond SA, Udenze D, Hayat S, Herdzik MA, McElroy DL, Orvold SN, Greba Q, Laprairie RB, Howland JG. Repeated Exposure to High-THC Cannabis Smoke during Gestation Alters Sex Ratio, Behavior, and Amygdala Gene Expression of Sprague Dawley Rat Offspring. eNeuro 2023; 10:ENEURO.0100-23.2023. [PMID: 37957008 PMCID: PMC10687874 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0100-23.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Because of the legalization of Cannabis in many jurisdictions and the trend of increasing Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content in Cannabis products, an urgent need exists to understand the impact of Cannabis use during pregnancy on fetal neurodevelopment and behavior. To this end, we exposed female Sprague Dawley rats to Cannabis smoke daily from gestational day 6 to 20 or room air. Maternal reproductive parameters, offspring behavior, and gene expression in the offspring amygdala were assessed. Body temperature was decreased in dams following smoke exposure and more fecal boli were observed in the chambers before and after smoke exposure in dams exposed to smoke. Maternal weight gain, food intake, gestational length, litter number, and litter weight were not altered by exposure to Cannabis smoke. A significant increase in the male-to-female ratio was noted in the Cannabis-exposed litters. In adulthood, male and female Cannabis smoke-exposed offspring explored the inner zone of an open field significantly less than control offspring. Gestational Cannabis smoke exposure did not affect behavior on the elevated plus maze test or social interaction test in the offspring. Cannabis offspring were better at visual pairwise discrimination and reversal learning tasks conducted in touchscreen-equipped operant conditioning chambers. Analysis of gene expression in the adult amygdala using RNA sequencing revealed subtle changes in genes related to development, cellular function, and nervous system disease in a subset of the male offspring. These results demonstrate that repeated exposure to high-THC Cannabis smoke during gestation alters maternal physiological parameters, sex ratio, and anxiety-like behaviors in the adulthood offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thaisa M Sandini
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E5, Canada
| | - Timothy J Onofrychuk
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E5, Canada
| | - Andrew J Roebuck
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E5, Canada
- School of Liberal Arts, Yukon University, Whitehorse, Yukon Territory Y1A 5K4, Canada
| | - S Austin Hammond
- Global Institute for Food Security, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 4L8, Canada
| | - Daniel Udenze
- Next Generation Sequencing Facility, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E5, Canada
| | - Shahina Hayat
- Deparment of Oncology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E5, Canada
| | - Melissa A Herdzik
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E5, Canada
| | - Dan L McElroy
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E5, Canada
| | - Spencer N Orvold
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E5, Canada
| | - Quentin Greba
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E5, Canada
| | - Robert B Laprairie
- College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E5, Canada
| | - John G Howland
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E5, Canada
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Lin A, Dent GL, Davies S, Dominguez ZM, Cioffredi LA, McLemore GL, Maxwell JR. Prenatal cannabinoid exposure: why expecting individuals should take a pregnancy pause from using cannabinoid products. Front Pediatr 2023; 11:1278227. [PMID: 37886232 PMCID: PMC10598870 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2023.1278227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Cannabinoid use in all populations is increasing as legalization across the United States continues. Concerningly, there is a lack of caution provided by medical providers to pregnant individuals as to the impact the use of cannabinoids could have on the developing fetus. Research continues in both the preclinical and clinical areas, and is severely needed, as the potency of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary psychoactive component of cannabis, has increased dramatically since the initial studies were completed. Thus far, clinical studies raise compelling evidence for short term memory deficits, impulse control issues, and attention deficiencies following prenatal cannabinoid exposure (PCE). These changes may be mediated through epigenetic modifications that not only impact the current offspring but could carry forward to future generations. While additional studies are needed, a pregnancy pause from cannabinoid products should be strongly recommended by providers to ensure the optimal health and well-being of our future generations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexis Lin
- Gustavus Adolphus College, Saint Peter, MN, United States
| | - Gelonia L. Dent
- Department of Mathematics, Medgar Evers College, CUNY, Brooklyn, NY, United States
| | - Suzy Davies
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Zarena M. Dominguez
- Department of Pediatrics, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | | | | | - Jessie R. Maxwell
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
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Kovács MV, Charchat-Fichman H, Landeira-Fernandez J, Medina AE, Krahe TE. Combined exposure to alcohol and cannabis during development: Mechanisms and outcomes. Alcohol 2023; 110:1-13. [PMID: 36740025 PMCID: PMC10372841 DOI: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2023.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to substances of abuse during pregnancy can have long-lasting effects on offspring. Alcohol is one of the most widely used substances of abuse that leads to the most severe consequences. Recent studies in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom showed that between 1% and 7% of all children exhibit signs and symptoms of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). Despite preventive campaigns, the rate of children with FASD has not decreased during recent decades. Alcohol consumption often accompanies exposure to such drugs as tobacco, cocaine, opioids, and cannabis. These interactions can be synergistic and exacerbate the deleterious consequences of developmental alcohol exposure. The present review focuses on interactions between alcohol and cannabis exposure and the potential consequences of these interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina V Kovács
- Departamento de Psicologia, Laboratório de Neurociência do Comportamento, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro, Rua Marquês de São Vicente, 225, Gávea - Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 22451-900, Brazil
| | - Helenice Charchat-Fichman
- Departamento de Psicologia, Laboratório de Neurociência do Comportamento, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro, Rua Marquês de São Vicente, 225, Gávea - Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 22451-900, Brazil
| | - J Landeira-Fernandez
- Departamento de Psicologia, Laboratório de Neurociência do Comportamento, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro, Rua Marquês de São Vicente, 225, Gávea - Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 22451-900, Brazil
| | - Alexandre E Medina
- Department of Pediatrics - School of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, United States.
| | - Thomas E Krahe
- Departamento de Psicologia, Laboratório de Neurociência do Comportamento, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro, Rua Marquês de São Vicente, 225, Gávea - Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 22451-900, Brazil.
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Ferreira LF, Pathapati N, Schultz ST, Nunn MC, Pierce BL, Sanchez YR, Murrell MD, Ginsburg BC, Onaivi ES, Gould GG. Acute cannabidiol treatment enhances social interaction in adult male mice. ADVANCES IN DRUG AND ALCOHOL RESEARCH 2023; 3:11163. [PMID: 37273836 PMCID: PMC10237625 DOI: 10.3389/adar.2023.11163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-intoxicating phytochemical from Cannabis sativa that is increasingly used to manage pain. The potential for CBD to ameliorate dimensional behavior symptoms occurring in multiple psychiatric disorders was suggested, including social interaction impairments. To test this hypothesis, adult male BTBRT+Itpr3tf/J (BTBR) mice, a model of idiopathic autism exhibiting social preference deficits and restrictive repetitive behaviors, were acutely treated with vehicle or 0.1, 1, or 10 mg/kg CBD. Social interaction preference was assessed 50 min after treatment, followed by social novelty preference at 60 min, marble burying at 75 min and social dominance at 120 min. CBD (10 mg/kg) enhanced BTBR social interaction but not social novelty preference, marble burying or dominance, with serum levels = 29 ± 11 ng/mg at 3 h post-injection. Next, acute 10 mg/kg CBD was compared to vehicle treatment in male serotonin transporter (SERT) knock-out mice, since SERT deficiency is an autism risk factor, and in their wildtype background strain controls C57BL/6J mice. CBD treatment generally enhanced social interaction preference and attenuated social novelty preference, yet neither marble burying nor dominance was affected. These findings show acute treatment with as little as 10 mg/kg purified CBD can enhance social interaction preference in male mice that are otherwise socially deficient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Livia F. Ferreira
- Center for Biomedical Neuroscience, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
- Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, School of Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | - Nikhita Pathapati
- Center for Biomedical Neuroscience, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
- Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, School of Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | - Stephen T. Schultz
- Center for Biomedical Neuroscience, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
- Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, School of Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | - Mary C. Nunn
- Center for Biomedical Neuroscience, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
- Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, School of Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | - Bethany L. Pierce
- Center for Biomedical Neuroscience, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
- Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, School of Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | - Yatzil R. Sanchez
- Center for Biomedical Neuroscience, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
- Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, School of Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | - Meredith D. Murrell
- Biological Psychiatry Analytic Laboratory, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | - Brett C. Ginsburg
- Biological Psychiatry Analytic Laboratory, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | - Emmanuel S. Onaivi
- Cannabis Research Institute, William Paterson University, Wayne, NJ, United States
- Department of Biology, William Paterson University, Wayne, NJ, United States
| | - Georgianna G. Gould
- Center for Biomedical Neuroscience, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
- Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, School of Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
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11
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Emerging Roles of Endocannabinoids as Key Lipid Mediators for a Successful Pregnancy. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24065220. [PMID: 36982295 PMCID: PMC10048990 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24065220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, Cannabis use/misuse for treating pregnancy-related symptoms and other chronic conditions has increased among pregnant women, favored by decriminalization and/or legalization of its recreational uses in addition to its easy accessibility. However, there is evidence that prenatal Cannabis exposure might have adverse consequences on pregnancy progression and a deleterious impact on proper neurodevelopmental trajectories in the offspring. Maternal Cannabis use could interfere with the complex and finely controlled role performed by the endocannabinoid system in reproductive physiology, impairing multiple gestational processes from blastocyst implantation to parturition, with long-lasting intergenerational effects. In this review, we discuss current clinical and preclinical evidence regarding the role of endocannabinoids in development, function, and immunity of the maternal–fetal interface, focusing on the impact of Cannabis constituents on each of these gestational processes. We also discuss the intrinsic limitations of the available studies and the future perspectives in this challenging research field.
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12
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Prenatal Exposure to Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Affects Hippocampus-Related Cognitive Functions in the Adolescent Rat Offspring: Focus on Specific Markers of Neuroplasticity. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:pharmaceutics15020692. [PMID: 36840014 PMCID: PMC9963541 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15020692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Previous evidence suggests that prenatal exposure to THC (pTHC) derails the neurodevelopmental trajectories towards a vulnerable phenotype for impaired emotional regulation and limbic memory. Here we aimed to investigate pTHC effect on hippocampus-related cognitive functions and markers of neuroplasticity in adolescent male offspring. Wistar rats were exposed to THC (2 mg/kg) from gestational day 5 to 20 and tested for spatial memory, object recognition memory and reversal learning in the reinforce-motivated Can test and in the aversion-driven Barnes maze test; locomotor activity and exploration, anxiety-like behaviour, and response to natural reward were assessed in the open field, elevated plus maze, and sucrose preference tests, respectively. The gene expression levels of NMDA NR1-2A subunits, mGluR5, and their respective scaffold proteins PSD95 and Homer1, as well as CB1R and the neuromodulatory protein HINT1, were measured in the hippocampus. pTHC offspring exhibited deficits in spatial and object recognition memory and reversal learning, increased locomotor activity, increased NR1-, decreased NR2A- and PSD95-, increased mGluR5- and Homer1-, and augmented CB1R- and HINT1-hippocampal mRNA levels. Our data shows that pTHC is associated with specific impairment in spatial cognitive processing and effectors of hippocampal neuroplasticity and suggests novel targets for future pharmacological challenges.
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13
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Patthy Á, Hanics J, Zachar G, Kovács GG, Harkany T, Alpár A. Regional redistribution of CB1 cannabinoid receptors in human foetal brains with Down's syndrome and their functional modifications in Ts65Dn +/+ mice. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 2023; 49:e12887. [PMID: 36716771 DOI: 10.1111/nan.12887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Revised: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
AIMS The endocannabinoid system with its type 1 cannabinoid receptor (CB1 R) expressed in postmitotic neuroblasts is a critical chemotropic guidance module with its actions cascading across neurogenic commitment, neuronal polarisation and synaptogenesis in vertebrates. Here, we present the systematic analysis of regional CB1 R expression in the developing human brain from gestational week 14 until birth. In parallel, we diagrammed differences in CB1 R development in Down syndrome foetuses and identified altered CB1 R signalling. METHODS Foetal brains with normal development or with Down's syndrome were analysed using standard immunohistochemistry, digitalised light microscopy and image analysis (NanoZoomer). CB1 R function was investigated by in vitro neuropharmacology from neonatal Ts65Dn transgenic mice brains carrying an additional copy of ~90 conserved protein-coding gene orthologues of the human chromosome 21. RESULTS We detected a meshwork of fine-calibre, often varicose processes between the subventricular and intermediate zones of the cortical plate in the late first trimester, when telencephalic fibre tracts develop. The density of CB1 Rs gradually decreased during the second and third trimesters in the neocortex. In contrast, CB1 R density was maintained, or even increased, in the hippocampus. We found the onset of CB1 R expression being delayed by ≥1 month in age-matched foetal brains with Down's syndrome. In vitro, CB1 R excitation induced excess microtubule stabilisation and, consequently, reduced neurite outgrowth. CONCLUSIONS We suggest that neuroarchitectural impairments in Down's syndrome brains involve the delayed development and errant functions of the endocannabinoid system, with a particular impact on endocannabinoids modulating axonal wiring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ágoston Patthy
- Department of Anatomy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - János Hanics
- Department of Anatomy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.,SE NAP Research Group of Experimental Neuroanatomy and Developmental Biology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Gergely Zachar
- Department of Anatomy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Gábor G Kovács
- Institute of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology and Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Tibor Harkany
- Department of Molecular Neurosciences, Center for Brain Research, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicum, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
| | - Alán Alpár
- Department of Anatomy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.,SE NAP Research Group of Experimental Neuroanatomy and Developmental Biology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
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14
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Frau R, Melis M. Sex-specific susceptibility to psychotic-like states provoked by prenatal THC exposure: Reversal by pregnenolone. J Neuroendocrinol 2023; 35:e13240. [PMID: 36810840 DOI: 10.1111/jne.13240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023]
Abstract
Sociocultural attitudes towards cannabis legalization contribute to the common misconception that it is a relatively safe drug and its use during pregnancy poses no risk to the fetus. However, longitudinal studies demonstrate that maternal cannabis exposure results in adverse outcomes in the offspring, with a heightened risk for developing psychopathology. One of the most reported psychiatric outcomes is the proneness to psychotic-like experiences during childhood. How exposure to cannabis during gestation increases psychosis susceptibility in children and adolescents remains elusive. Preclinical research has indicated that in utero exposure to the major psychoactive component of cannabis, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), deranges brain developmental trajectories towards vulnerable psychotic-like endophenotypes later in life. Here, we present how prenatal THC exposure (PCE) deregulates mesolimbic dopamine development predisposing the offspring to schizophrenia-relevant phenotypes, exclusively when exposed to environmental challenges, such as stress or THC. Detrimental effects of PCE are sex-specific because female offspring do not display psychotic-like outcomes upon exposure to these challenges. Moreover, we present how pregnenolone, a neurosteroid that showed beneficial properties on the effects elicited by cannabis intoxication, normalizes mesolimbic dopamine function and rescues psychotic-like phenotypes. We, therefore, suggest this neurosteroid as a safe "disease-modifying" aid to prevent the onset of psychoses in vulnerable individuals. Our findings corroborate clinical evidence and highlight the relevance of early diagnostic screening and preventative strategies for young individuals at risk for mental diseases, such as male PCE offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Frau
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Division of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy
- The Guy Everett Laboratory for Neuroscience, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Miriam Melis
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Division of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy
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15
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Roque-Bravo R, Silva RS, Malheiro RF, Carmo H, Carvalho F, da Silva DD, Silva JP. Synthetic Cannabinoids: A Pharmacological and Toxicological Overview. Annu Rev Pharmacol Toxicol 2023; 63:187-209. [PMID: 35914767 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-pharmtox-031122-113758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) are a chemically diverse group of new psychoactive substances (NPSs) that target the endocannabinoid system, triggering a plethora of actions (e.g., elevated mood sensation, relaxation, appetite stimulation) that resemble, but are more intense than, those induced by cannabis. Although some of these effects have been explored for therapeutic applications, anticipated stronger psychoactive effects than cannabis and reduced risk perception have increased the recreational use of SCs, which have dominated the NPS market in the United States and Europe over the past decade. However, rising SC-related intoxications and deaths represent a major public health concern and embody a major challenge for policy makers. Here, we review the pharmacology and toxicology of SCs. A thorough characterization of SCs' pharmacodynamics and toxicodynamics is important to better understand the main mechanisms underlying acute and chronic effects of SCs, interpret the clinical/pathological findings related to SC use, and improve SC risk awareness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Roque-Bravo
- Associate Laboratory i4HB - Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, and UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal; ,
| | - Rafaela Sofia Silva
- Associate Laboratory i4HB - Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, and UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal; ,
| | - Rui F Malheiro
- Associate Laboratory i4HB - Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, and UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal; ,
| | - Helena Carmo
- Associate Laboratory i4HB - Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, and UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal; ,
| | - Félix Carvalho
- Associate Laboratory i4HB - Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, and UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal; ,
| | - Diana Dias da Silva
- Associate Laboratory i4HB - Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, and UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal; , .,Toxicology Research Unit (TOXRUN), University Institute of Health Sciences, IUCS-CESPU, Gandra, Portugal
| | - João Pedro Silva
- Associate Laboratory i4HB - Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, and UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal; ,
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16
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Abstract
Because of substantial limitations in available national data, such as inconsistencies among surveys and small sample sizes, the increased prevalence of cannabis use among adolescents since recreational legalization has not been directly observed. Nevertheless, both usage frequency and product potency have significantly increased, alongside alternative routes of delivery to smoking, such as vaping cannabis. Moreover, certain populations may be especially vulnerable to the effects of legalization. Regardless of differing state-level cannabis legalization status, the adverse consequences of cannabis on youth have clear negative impacts on mental health, medical symptoms, educational outcomes, and increased risk of addiction to other substances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristie Ladegard
- Denver Health, University of Colorado, 601 Broadway 7th Floor, MC7779, Denver, CO 80203, USA.
| | - Devika Bhatia
- University of Colorado, 13007 East 19th Place, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
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17
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In utero exposure to cannabidiol disrupts select early-life behaviors in a sex-specific manner. Transl Psychiatry 2022; 12:501. [PMID: 36470874 PMCID: PMC9722662 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-022-02271-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cannabidiol (CBD), one of the main components of cannabis, is generally considered safe. CBD crosses the placenta and its use during pregnancy is steadily increasing, the impact of gestational CBD's effects on prenatal life and neurodevelopment are poorly understood. Here, we combined behavioral approaches and deep learning analysis to assess the sex-dependent neonatal behavior of CBD exposed progeny. Gestating C57BL6/J dams were exposed daily with vehicle or CBD (3 mg/Kg, s.c.), from gestational day 5 to 18. Body weight, pup ultrasound vocalizations (USVs, PND 10) and homing behavior (PND 13) were quantified in the progeny. Thus, male (but not female) pups from CBD-treated dams gained more weight than sham. There were sex-dependent differences in the coarse characteristics of ultrasonic vocalizations. Prenatally-CBD exposed male pups emitted shorter calls, whereas CBD females made more high frequency calls when compared with their control counterparts. There were significant qualitative changes in the syllabic USV repertoire reflected in call typologies and communication patterns. Finally, the homing behavior test showed that CBD-exposed females presented a greater vulnerability to gestational CBD than males. Only CBD-exposed female pups showed reduced motor and discriminatory abilities. Together the results suggest a sexual divergence in the consequences of in utero CBD exposure on neonates at early developmental ages, which may be predictive of adult psychopathology. Given the extent of cannabis and CBD use worldwide, these findings challenge the idea that CBD is a universally safe compound and reveal the need for additional studies on the effect of perinatal CBD exposure.
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18
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Prenatal THC Exposure Induces Sex-Dependent Neuropsychiatric Endophenotypes in Offspring and Long-Term Disruptions in Fatty-Acid Signaling Pathways Directly in the Mesolimbic Circuitry. eNeuro 2022; 9:ENEURO.0253-22.2022. [PMID: 36171057 PMCID: PMC9557330 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0253-22.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite increased prevalence of maternal cannabis use, little is understood regarding potential long-term effects of prenatal cannabis exposure (PCE) on neurodevelopmental outcomes. While neurodevelopmental cannabis exposure increases the risk of developing affective/mood disorders in adulthood, the precise neuropathophysiological mechanisms in male and female offspring are largely unknown. Given the interconnectivity of the endocannabinoid (ECb) system and the brain's fatty acid pathways, we hypothesized that prenatal exposure to Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) may dysregulate fetal neurodevelopment through alterations of fatty-acid dependent synaptic and neuronal function in the mesolimbic system. To investigate this, pregnant Wistar rats were exposed to vehicle or THC (3 mg/kg) from gestational day (GD)7 until GD22. Anxiety-like, depressive-like, and reward-seeking behavior, electrophysiology, and molecular assays were performed on adult male/female offspring. Imaging of fatty acids using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization imaging mass spectrometry (MALDI IMS) was performed at prepubescence and adulthood. We report that PCE induces behavioral, neuronal, and molecular alterations in the mesolimbic system in male and female offspring, resembling neuropsychiatric endophenotypes. Additionally, PCE resulted in profound dysregulation of critical fatty acid pathways in the developing brain lipidome. Female progeny exhibited significant alterations to fatty acid levels at prepubescence but recovered from these deficits by early adulthood. In contrast, males exhibited persistent fatty acid deficits into adulthood. Moreover, both sexes maintained enduring abnormalities in glutamatergic/GABAergic function in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). These findings identify several novel long-term risks of maternal cannabis use and demonstrate for the first time, sex-related effects of maternal cannabinoid exposure directly in the developing neural lipidome.
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19
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Lowell AF, Morie K, Potenza MN, Crowley MJ, Mayes LC. An intergenerational lifespan perspective on the neuroscience of prenatal substance exposure. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2022; 219:173445. [PMID: 35970340 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2022.173445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2022] [Revised: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Prenatal substance exposure has the potential to impact a variety of domains, with neurobiological effects that last throughout the lifespan. Different substances may impact the brain in both specific and diffuse ways; however, the aberrant neural outcomes following exposure tend to coalesce in three areas: (1) sensorimotor development; (2) arousal, motivation, and reward; and (3) executive functioning, impulse control, and emotion regulation. This manuscript represents a summary and update of a previous review (Morie et al., 2019). We organize this piece by domain and summarize data from published neuroimaging studies that examine the neural correlates of prenatal exposure across developmental stages. While the published neuroimaging literature in the area of prenatal exposure has a range of sampling concerns that may limit generalizability as well as longitudinal prediction, the findings to date do point to domains of interest warranting further study. With this caveat, we synthesize the extant findings to describe ways in which prenatal substance exposure is associated with developmental psychopathology and implicated in potentially aberrant behavioral patterns beginning in infancy and persisting through childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and even parenthood. We also examine how substance abuse may impact parenting behaviors that in turn influences infant and child behavior in ways that may be additive or obscure the direct teratological effects of prenatal exposure. Given this observation, we offer an additional intergenerational lens through which prenatal substance exposure should be studied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda F Lowell
- Yale Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
| | - Kristen Morie
- Yale Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Marc N Potenza
- Yale Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; Connecticut Mental Health Center, New Haven, CT, USA; Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling, Wethersfield, CT, USA
| | - Michael J Crowley
- Yale Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Linda C Mayes
- Yale Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
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20
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Prenatal exposure to Cannabis smoke induces early and lasting damage to the brain. Neurochem Int 2022; 160:105406. [PMID: 35970295 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2022.105406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 08/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Cannabis is the most widely used illegal drug during pregnancy, however, the effects of gestational exposure to Cannabis smoke (CS) on the central nervous system development remain uncharacterised. This study investigates the effects of maternal CS inhalation on brain function in the offspring. Pregnant mice were exposed daily to 5 min of CS during gestational days (GD) 5.5-17.5. On GD 18.5 half of the dams were euthanized for foetus removal. The offspring from the remaining dams were euthanized on postnatal days (PND) 20 and 60 for evaluation. Brain volume, cortex cell number, SOX2, histone-H3, parvalbumin, NeuN, and BDNF immunoreactivity were assessed in all groups. In addition, levels of NeuN, CB1 receptor, and BDNF expression were assessed and cortical primary neurons from rats were treated with Cannabis smoke extract (CSE) for assessment of cell viability. We found that male foetuses from the CS exposed group had decreased brain volume, whereas mice at PND 60 from the exposed group presented with increased brain volume. Olfactory bulb and diencephalon volume were found lower in foetuses exposed to CS. Mice at PND 60 from the exposed group had a smaller volume in the thalamus and hypothalamus while the cerebellum presented with a greater volume. Also, there was an increase in cortical BDNF immunoreactivity in CS exposed mice at PND 60. Protein expression analysis showed an increase in pro-BDNF in foetus brains exposed to CS. Mice at PND 60 presented an increase in mature BDNF in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) in the exposed group and a higher CB1 receptor expression in the PFC. Moreover, hippocampal NeuN expression was higher in adult animals from the exposed group. Lastly, treatment of cortical primary neurons with doses of CSE resulted in decreased cell viability. These findings highlight the potential negative neurodevelopmental outcomes induced by gestational CS exposure.
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21
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Effects of endocannabinoid system modulation on social behaviour: A systematic review of animal studies. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 138:104680. [PMID: 35513169 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Revised: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/09/2022]
Abstract
There is a clear link between psychiatric disorders and social behaviour, and evidence suggests the involvement of the endocannabinoid system (ECS). A systematic review of preclinical literature was conducted using MEDLINE (PubMed) and PsychINFO databases to examine whether pharmacological and/or genetic manipulations of the ECS alter social behaviours in wildtype (WT) animals or models of social impairment (SIM). Eighty studies were included. Risk of bias (RoB) was assessed using SYRCLE's RoB tool. While some variability was evident, studies most consistently found that direct cannabinoid receptor (CBR) agonism decreased social behaviours in WT animals, while indirect CBR activation via enzyme inhibition or gene-knockout increased social behaviours. Direct and, more consistently, indirect CBR activation reversed social deficits in SIM. These CBR-mediated effects were often sex- and developmental-phase-dependent and blocked by CBR antagonism. Overall, ECS enzyme inhibition may improve social behaviour in SIM, suggesting the potential usefulness of ECS enzyme inhibition as a therapeutic approach for social deficits. Future research should endeavour to elucidate ECS status in neuropsychiatric disorders characterized by social deficits.
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22
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Epigenetic Studies for Evaluation of NPS Toxicity: Focus on Synthetic Cannabinoids and Cathinones. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10061398. [PMID: 35740419 PMCID: PMC9219842 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10061398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Revised: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
In the recent decade, numerous new psychoactive substances (NPSs) have been added to the illicit drug market. These are synthetized to mimic the effects of classic drugs of abuse (i.e., cannabis, cocaine, etc.), with the purpose of bypassing substance legislations and increasing the pharmacotoxicological effects. To date, research into the acute pharmacological effects of new NPSs is ongoing and necessary in order to provide an appropriate contribution to public health. In fact, multiple examples of NPS-related acute intoxication and mortality have been recorded in the literature. Accordingly, several in vitro and in vivo studies have investigated the pharmacotoxicological profiles of these compounds, revealing that they can cause adverse effects involving various organ systems (i.e., cardiovascular, respiratory effects) and highlighting their potential increased consumption risks. In this sense, NPSs should be regarded as a complex issue that requires continuous monitoring. Moreover, knowledge of long-term NPS effects is lacking. Because genetic and environmental variables may impact NPS responses, epigenetics may aid in understanding the processes behind the harmful events induced by long-term NPS usage. Taken together, “pharmacoepigenomics” may provide a new field of combined study on genetic differences and epigenetic changes in drug reactions that might be predictive in forensic implications.
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23
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Cossart R, Garel S. Step by step: cells with multiple functions in cortical circuit assembly. Nat Rev Neurosci 2022; 23:395-410. [DOI: 10.1038/s41583-022-00585-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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Dos(e)Age: Role of Dose and Age in the Long-Term Effect of Cannabinoids on Cognition. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27041411. [PMID: 35209200 PMCID: PMC8876668 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27041411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Revised: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Cannabis is still the most widely used illicit drug around the world. While its use has always been prevalent among adolescents, recent evidence suggests that its consumption is also increasing among other population groups, such as pregnant women and aged people. Given the known impact of cannabis on brain development and behavior, it is important to dissect the possible long-term impact of its use across different age groups, especially on measures of cognitive performance. Animal models of cannabinoid exposure have represented a fundamental tool to characterize the long-lasting consequences of cannabinoids on cognitive performance and helped to identify possible factors that could modulate cannabinoids effects in the long term, such as the age of exposure and doses administered. This scoping review was systematically conducted using PubMed and includes papers published from 2015 to December 2021 that examined the effects of cannabinoids, either natural or synthetic, on cognitive performance in animal models where exposure occurred in the prenatal period, during adolescence, or in older animals. Overall, available data clearly point to a crucial role of age in determining the long-term effect of cannabinoid on cognition, highlighting possible detrimental consequences during brain development (prenatal and adolescent exposure) and beneficial outcomes in old age. In contrast, despite the recent advances in the field, it appears difficult to clearly establish a possible role of dosage in the effects of cannabinoids on cognition, especially when the adolescent period is taken into account.
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Testai FD, Gorelick PB, Aparicio HJ, Filbey FM, Gonzalez R, Gottesman RF, Melis M, Piano MR, Rubino T, Song SY. Use of Marijuana: Effect on Brain Health: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association. Stroke 2022; 53:e176-e187. [PMID: 35142225 DOI: 10.1161/str.0000000000000396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Marijuana is perceived as a harmless drug, and its recreational use has gained popularity among young individuals. The concentration of active ingredients in recreational formulations has gradually increased over time, and high-potency illicit cannabinomimetics have become available. Thus, the consumption of cannabis in the general population is rising. Data from preclinical models demonstrate that cannabinoid receptors are expressed in high density in areas involved in cognition and behavior, particularly during periods of active neurodevelopment and maturation. In addition, growing evidence highlights the role of endogenous cannabinoid pathways in the regulation of neurotransmitter release, synaptic plasticity, and neurodevelopment. In animal models, exogenous cannabinoids disrupt these important processes and lead to cognitive and behavioral abnormalities. These data correlate with the higher risk of cognitive impairment reported in some observational studies done in humans. It is unclear whether the effect of cannabis on cognition reverts after abstinence. However, this evidence, along with the increased risk of stroke reported in marijuana users, raises concerns about its potential long-term effects on cognitive function. This scientific statement reviews the safety of cannabis use from the perspective of brain health, describes mechanistically how cannabis may cause cognitive dysfunction, and advocates for a more informed health care worker and consumer about the potential for cannabis to adversely affect the brain.
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Betts KS, Kisely S, Alati R. Prenatal cannabis use disorders and offspring primary and secondary educational outcomes. Addiction 2022; 117:425-432. [PMID: 34184804 DOI: 10.1111/add.15629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2020] [Revised: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Cannabis use is increasing among women of reproductive age, warranting a greater understanding of the impact of prenatal cannabis use on offspring developmental outcomes. We tested for a potential relationship between prenatal cannabis use disorders (CUD) and offspring educational outcomes across primary and secondary school. DESIGN Data were drawn from the New South Wales (NSW) Perinatal Data Collection, which included all live births in the Australian state of NSW between January 2003 and December 2005. These were linked with the NSW Admitted Patient Data collection for mothers and offspring, and the NSW National Assessment Program-Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN). SETTING New South Wales, Australia. PARTICIPANTS A total of 189 558 offspring who completed the NAPLAN in grades 3, 5 and 7 (resulting in 568 674 examination periods). MEASUREMENTS The exposure variable was ICD-10 cannabis use disorders (CUD = F13.0-F13.9). The study included five outcome variables measured at three time-points as not meeting the minimum national standards for: (i) numeracy, (ii) reading, (iii) spelling, (iv) writing and (v) grammar and punctuation. FINDINGS In unadjusted analyses, prenatal CUD was associated with an increased risk for not meeting the national minimum standard of all outcomes [odds ratios (OR) ranging from 3.42 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.94, 3.99) to 4.17 (95% CI = 3.55, 4.91)], with no evidence for an interaction across time. However, the associations attenuated greatly after exact matching by covariates, with reading and numeracy no longer associated with prenatal CUD, while the increased risk of the other outcomes ranged from OR = 1.31 (95% CI = 1.09, 1.57) to OR = 1.40 (95% CI = 1.17, 1.68). CONCLUSION Socio-economic status appears to confound the association between prenatal cannabis use disorder and poor educational performance in offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim S Betts
- School of Public Health, Curtin University, Bentley, WA, Australia
| | - Steve Kisely
- School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Rosa Alati
- School of Public Health, Curtin University, Bentley, WA, Australia.,Institute for Social Science Research, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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Reid HMO, Snowden TM, Shkolnikov I, Breit KR, Rodriguez C, Thomas JD, Christie BR. Prenatal alcohol and cannabis exposure can have opposing and region-specific effects on parvalbumin interneuron numbers in the hippocampus. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2021; 45:2246-2255. [PMID: 34523142 PMCID: PMC8642289 DOI: 10.1111/acer.14708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Revised: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND We recently showed that alcohol and cannabis can interact prenatally, and in a recent review paper, we identified parvalbumin-positive (PV) interneurons in the hippocampus as a potential point of convergence for these teratogens. METHODS A 2 (Ethanol [EtOH], Air) × 2 (tetrahydrocannabinol [THC], Vehicle) design was used to expose pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats to either EtOH or air, in addition to either THC or the inhalant vehicle solution, during gestational days 5-20. Immunohistochemistry was performed to detect PV interneurons in 1 male and 1 female pup from each litter at postnatal day 70. RESULTS Significant between-group and subregion-specific effects were found in the dorsal cornu ammonis 1 (CA1) subfield and the ventral dentate gyrus (DG). In the dorsal CA1 subfield, there was an increase in the number of PV interneurons in both the EtOH and EtOH +THC groups, but a decrease with THC alone. There were fewer changes in interneuron numbers overall in the DG, though there was a sex difference, with a decrease in the number of PV interneurons in the THC-exposed group in males. There was also a greater cell layer volume in the DG in the EtOH +THC group than the control group, and in the CA1 region in the EtOH group compared to the control and THC groups. CONCLUSIONS Prenatal exposure to alcohol and THC differentially affects parvalbumin-positive interneuron numbers in the hippocampus, indicating that both individual and combined exposure can impact the balance of excitation and inhibition in a structure critically involved in learning and memory processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah M O Reid
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Taylor M Snowden
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Irene Shkolnikov
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Kristen R Breit
- Center for Behavioral Teratology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
- Department of Psychology, West Chester University of Pennsylvania, West Chester, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Cristina Rodriguez
- Center for Behavioral Teratology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Jennifer D Thomas
- Center for Behavioral Teratology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Brian R Christie
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
- Island Medical Program, Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, University of British Columbia, Victoria, British Columbia, USA
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Grandy C, Donnan J, Bishop L, Vidyasankar A, Blackmore A. An Update on Prenatal Cannabis Use. JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY CANADA 2021; 44:309-312. [PMID: 34718147 DOI: 10.1016/j.jogc.2021.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Revised: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Since the legalization of non-medical cannabis, more questions have arisen regarding cannabis use during pregnancy. Obstetrical care providers can minimize the harms of prenatal cannabis use with evidence-based information and education. This commentary describes populations at highest risk for use, the predictors of use, the reasons birthing people continue or stop using cannabis during pregnancy, and short- and long-term outcomes for infants and children exposed to cannabis prenatally. Our goal is to equip providers with knowledge from literature to inform practical decision-making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine Grandy
- School of Pharmacy, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL
| | - Jennifer Donnan
- School of Pharmacy, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL.
| | - Lisa Bishop
- School of Pharmacy, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL
| | | | - Alicia Blackmore
- Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL
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Lee K, Hardy DB. Metabolic Consequences of Gestational Cannabinoid Exposure. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:9528. [PMID: 34502436 PMCID: PMC8430813 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22179528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Revised: 08/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Up to 20% of pregnant women ages 18-24 consume cannabis during pregnancy. Moreover, clinical studies indicate that cannabis consumption during pregnancy leads to fetal growth restriction (FGR), which is associated with an increased risk of obesity, type II diabetes (T2D), and cardiovascular disease in the offspring. This is of great concern considering that the concentration of Δ9- tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), a major psychoactive component of cannabis, has doubled over the last decade and can readily cross the placenta and enter fetal circulation, with the potential to negatively impact fetal development via the endocannabinoid (eCB) system. Cannabis exposure in utero could also lead to FGR via placental insufficiency. In this review, we aim to examine current pre-clinical and clinical findings on the direct effects of exposure to cannabis and its constituents on fetal development as well as indirect effects, namely placental insufficiency, on postnatal metabolic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kendrick Lee
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, 1151 Richmond Street, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada;
- The Children’s Health Research Institute, The Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Daniel B. Hardy
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, 1151 Richmond Street, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada;
- The Children’s Health Research Institute, The Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond Street, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada
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The Impact of Early Life Exposure to Cannabis: The Role of the Endocannabinoid System. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22168576. [PMID: 34445282 PMCID: PMC8395329 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22168576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Revised: 08/01/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Cannabis use during pregnancy has continued to rise, particularly in developed countries, as a result of the trend towards legalization and lack of consistent, evidence-based knowledge on the matter. While there is conflicting data regarding whether cannabis use during pregnancy leads to adverse outcomes such as stillbirth, preterm birth, low birthweight, or increased admission to neonatal intensive care units, investigations into long-term effects on the offspring’s health are limited. Historically, studies have focused on the neurobehavioral effects of prenatal cannabis exposure on the offspring. The effects of cannabis on other physiological aspects of the developing fetus have received less attention. Importantly, our knowledge about cannabinoid signaling in the placenta is also limited. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is present at early stages of development and represents a potential target for exogenous cannabinoids in utero. The ECS is expressed in a broad range of tissues and influences a spectrum of cellular functions. The aim of this review is to explore the current evidence surrounding the effects of prenatal exposure to cannabinoids and the role of the ECS in the placenta and the developing fetus.
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31
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Molina-Holgado E, Paniagua-Torija B, Arevalo-Martin A, Moreno-Luna R, Esteban PF, Le MQU, Del Cerro MDM, Garcia-Ovejero D. Cannabinoid Receptor 1 associates to different molecular complexes during GABAergic neuron maturation. J Neurochem 2021; 158:640-656. [PMID: 33942314 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Revised: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
CB1 cannabinoid receptor is widely expressed in the central nervous system of animals from late prenatal development to adulthood. Appropriate activation and signaling of CB1 cannabinoid receptors in cortical interneurons are crucial during perinatal/postnatal ages and adolescence, when long-lasting changes in brain activity may elicit subsequent appearance of disorders in the adult brain. Here we used an optimized immunoprecipitation protocol based on specific antibodies followed by shot-gun proteomics to find CB1 interacting partners in postnatal rat GABAergic cortical neurons in vitro at two different stages of maturation. Besides describing new proteins associated with CB1 like dihydrolipoyllysine-residue acetyltransferase component of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (DLAT), fatty acid synthase (FASN), tyrosine 3-monooxygenase/tryptophan 5-monooxygenase activation protein zeta (YWHAZ), voltage-dependent anion channel 1 (VDAC1), myosin phosphatase Rho-interacting protein (MPRIP) or usher syndrome type-1C protein-binding protein 1 (USHBP1), we show that the signaling complex of CB1 is different between maturational stages. Interestingly, the CB1 signaling complex is enriched at the more immature stage in mitochondrial associated proteins and metabolic molecular functions, whereas at more mature stage, CB1 complex is increased in maturation and synaptic-associated proteins. We describe also interacting partners specifically immunoprecipitated with either N-terminal or C-terminal CB1 directed antibodies. Our results highlight new players that may be affected by altered cannabinoid signaling at this critical window of postnatal cortical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo Molina-Holgado
- Laboratory of Neuroinflammation, Hospital Nacional de Paraplejicos (SESCAM), Toledo, Spain
| | | | - Angel Arevalo-Martin
- Laboratory of Neuroinflammation, Hospital Nacional de Paraplejicos (SESCAM), Toledo, Spain
| | - Rafael Moreno-Luna
- Laboratory of Neuroinflammation, Hospital Nacional de Paraplejicos (SESCAM), Toledo, Spain
| | - Pedro F Esteban
- Laboratory of Neuroinflammation, Hospital Nacional de Paraplejicos (SESCAM), Toledo, Spain
| | - Minh Quynh Uyen Le
- Laboratory of Neuroinflammation, Hospital Nacional de Paraplejicos (SESCAM), Toledo, Spain
| | | | - Daniel Garcia-Ovejero
- Laboratory of Neuroinflammation, Hospital Nacional de Paraplejicos (SESCAM), Toledo, Spain
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Reid HMO, Chen-Mack N, Snowden T, Christie BR. Understanding Changes in Hippocampal Interneurons Subtypes in the Pathogenesis of Alzheimer's Disease: A Systematic Review. Brain Connect 2021; 11:159-179. [PMID: 33559520 DOI: 10.1089/brain.2020.0879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: It is becoming increasingly recognized that there is significant interneuron degeneration in Alzheimer's disease. As the hippocampus is integral for learning and memory, we performed a systematic review of primary literature focused on the relationship between Alzheimer's and hippocampal interneurons. In this study, we summarize the experimental work performed to date and identify opportunities for future experiments. Objectives: This PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses)-style systematic review seeks to summarize the findings of all accessible research focused on cholecystokinin (CCK), neuropeptide Y (NPY), parvalbumin (PV), and somatostatin (SOM) interneurons in the hippocampal formation. Results: One thousand five hundred ninety-three articles were pulled from PubMed, PsycInfo, and Web of Science, based on three blocks of search terms. There were 45 articles that met all the predetermined inclusion/exclusion criteria. There is strong evidence that PV interneurons are affected early in the disease by toxic amyloid beta (Aβ) fragments; SOM interneurons are affected indirectly while the SOM neuropeptide may act to slowly worsen toxic Aβ fragment accumulation, whereas NPY- and CCK-positive interneurons are affected later in the progression of the disease. Conclusions: Fewer studies have been performed on NPY and CCK interneurons, and there is room for further investigations regarding the role of PV interneurons in Alzheimer's to help resolve contradictory findings. This review found that PV interneurons are affected early in the disease, but only in Alzheimer's precursor protein but not tau models. NPY and CCK interneurons were found to be affected later in the disease, and SOM interneurons vary greatly. Future studies may consider reporting immunohistochemical studies inclusive of either cell location or morphology-as well as marker to give a more robust picture of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah M O Reid
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Nathan Chen-Mack
- Island Medical Program and Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, University of British Columbia, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Taylor Snowden
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Brian R Christie
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
- Island Medical Program and Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, University of British Columbia, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
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Sagheddu C, Traccis F, Serra V, Congiu M, Frau R, Cheer JF, Melis M. Mesolimbic dopamine dysregulation as a signature of information processing deficits imposed by prenatal THC exposure. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2021; 105:110128. [PMID: 33031862 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2020.110128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Revised: 10/02/2020] [Accepted: 10/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Cannabis is the illicit drug most widely used by pregnant women worldwide. Its growing acceptance and legalization have markedly increased the risks of child psychopathology, including psychotic-like experiences, which lowers the age of onset for a first psychotic episode. As the majority of patients with schizophrenia go through a premorbid condition long before this occurs, understanding neurobiological underpinnings of the prodromal stage of the disease is critical to improving illness trajectories and therapeutic outcomes. We have previously shown that male rat offspring prenatally exposed to Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a rat model of prenatal cannabinoid exposure (PCE), exhibit extensive molecular and synaptic changes in dopaminergic neurons of the ventral tegmental area (VTA), converging on a hyperdopaminergic state. This leads to a silent psychotic-like endophenotype that is unmasked by a single exposure to THC. Here, we further characterized the VTA dopamine neuron and sensorimotor gating functions of PCE rats exposed to acute stress or a challenge of the D2 receptor agonist apomorphine, by using in vivo single-unit extracellular recordings and Prepulse Inhibition (PPI) analyses. At pre-puberty, PCE male rat offspring display a reduced population activity of VTA dopamine neurons in vivo, the majority of which are tonically active. PCE male progeny also exhibit enhanced sensitivity to dopamine D2 (DAD2) receptor activation and a vulnerability to acute stress, which is associated with compromised sensorimotor gating functions. This data extends our knowledge of the multifaceted sequelae imposed by PCE in the mesolimbic dopamine system of male pre-adolescent rats, which renders a neural substrate highly susceptible to subsequent challenges that may trigger psychotic-like outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Sagheddu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Division of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Francesco Traccis
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Division of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Valeria Serra
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Division of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Mauro Congiu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Division of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Roberto Frau
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Division of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Joseph F Cheer
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Miriam Melis
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Division of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy.
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Traccis F, Serra V, Sagheddu C, Congiu M, Saba P, Giua G, Devoto P, Frau R, Cheer JF, Melis M. Prenatal THC Does Not Affect Female Mesolimbic Dopaminergic System in Preadolescent Rats. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22041666. [PMID: 33562259 PMCID: PMC7914408 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22041666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2021] [Revised: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Cannabis use among pregnant women is increasing worldwide along with permissive sociocultural attitudes toward it. Prenatal cannabis exposure (PCE), however, is associated with adverse outcome among offspring, ranging from reduced birth weight to child psychopathology. We have previously shown that male rat offspring prenatally exposed to Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a rat model of PCE, exhibit extensive molecular, cellular, and synaptic changes in dopamine neurons of the ventral tegmental area (VTA), resulting in a susceptible mesolimbic dopamine system associated with a psychotic-like endophenotype. This phenotype only reveals itself upon a single exposure to THC in males but not females. Here, we characterized the impact of PCE on female behaviors and mesolimbic dopamine system function by combining in vivo single-unit extracellular recordings in anesthetized animals and ex vivo patch clamp recordings, along with neurochemical and behavioral analyses. We find that PCE female offspring do not show any spontaneous or THC-induced behavioral disease-relevant phenotypes. The THC-induced increase in dopamine levels in nucleus accumbens was reduced in PCE female offspring, even when VTA dopamine activity in vivo and ex vivo did not differ compared to control. These findings indicate that PCE impacts mesolimbic dopamine function and its related behavioral domains in a sex-dependent manner and warrant further investigations to decipher the mechanisms determining this sex-related protective effect from intrauterine THC exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Traccis
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Division of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Italy; (F.T.); (V.S.); (C.S.); (M.C.); (P.S.); (G.G.); (P.D.); (R.F.)
| | - Valeria Serra
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Division of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Italy; (F.T.); (V.S.); (C.S.); (M.C.); (P.S.); (G.G.); (P.D.); (R.F.)
| | - Claudia Sagheddu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Division of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Italy; (F.T.); (V.S.); (C.S.); (M.C.); (P.S.); (G.G.); (P.D.); (R.F.)
| | - Mauro Congiu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Division of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Italy; (F.T.); (V.S.); (C.S.); (M.C.); (P.S.); (G.G.); (P.D.); (R.F.)
| | - Pierluigi Saba
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Division of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Italy; (F.T.); (V.S.); (C.S.); (M.C.); (P.S.); (G.G.); (P.D.); (R.F.)
| | - Gabriele Giua
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Division of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Italy; (F.T.); (V.S.); (C.S.); (M.C.); (P.S.); (G.G.); (P.D.); (R.F.)
| | - Paola Devoto
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Division of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Italy; (F.T.); (V.S.); (C.S.); (M.C.); (P.S.); (G.G.); (P.D.); (R.F.)
| | - Roberto Frau
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Division of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Italy; (F.T.); (V.S.); (C.S.); (M.C.); (P.S.); (G.G.); (P.D.); (R.F.)
| | - Joseph Francois Cheer
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA;
| | - Miriam Melis
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Division of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Italy; (F.T.); (V.S.); (C.S.); (M.C.); (P.S.); (G.G.); (P.D.); (R.F.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-070-675-4322
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Paquin V, Lapierre M, Veru F, King S. Early Environmental Upheaval and the Risk for Schizophrenia. Annu Rev Clin Psychol 2021; 17:285-311. [PMID: 33544627 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-081219-103805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Why does prenatal exposure to wars, natural disasters, urbanicity, or winter increase the risk for schizophrenia? Research from the last two decades has provided rich insight about the underlying chains of causation at play during environmental upheaval, from conception to early infancy. In this review, we appraise the evidence linking schizophrenia spectrum disorder to prenatal maternal stress, obstetric complications, early infections, and maternal nutrition and other lifestyle factors. We discuss putative mechanisms, including the maternal stress system, perinatal hypoxia, and maternal-offspring immune activation. We propose that gene-environment interactions, timing during development, and sex differentiate the neuropsychiatric outcomes. Future research should pursue the translation of animal studies to humans and the longitudinal associations between early exposures, intermediate phenotypes, and psychiatric disorders. Finally, to paint a comprehensive model of risk and to harness targets for prevention, we argue that risk factors should be situated within the individual's personal ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Paquin
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montréal, Québec H3A 1A1, Canada; .,Douglas Research Centre, Montréal, Québec H4H 1R3, Canada
| | - Mylène Lapierre
- Douglas Research Centre, Montréal, Québec H4H 1R3, Canada.,Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec H2V 2S9, Canada
| | - Franz Veru
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montréal, Québec H3A 1A1, Canada; .,Douglas Research Centre, Montréal, Québec H4H 1R3, Canada
| | - Suzanne King
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montréal, Québec H3A 1A1, Canada; .,Douglas Research Centre, Montréal, Québec H4H 1R3, Canada.,Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec H2V 2S9, Canada
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Di Bartolomeo M, Stark T, Maurel OM, Iannotti FA, Kuchar M, Ruda-Kucerova J, Piscitelli F, Laudani S, Pekarik V, Salomone S, Arosio B, Mechoulam R, Maccarrone M, Drago F, Wotjak CT, Di Marzo V, Vismara M, Dell'Osso B, D'Addario C, Micale V. Crosstalk between the transcriptional regulation of dopamine D2 and cannabinoid CB1 receptors in schizophrenia: Analyses in patients and in perinatal Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol-exposed rats. Pharmacol Res 2021; 164:105357. [PMID: 33285233 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2020.105357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Revised: 11/07/2020] [Accepted: 11/28/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Perinatal exposure to Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) affects brain development and might increase the incidence of psychopathology later in life, which seems to be related to a dysregulation of endocannabinoid and/or dopaminergic systems. We here evaluated the transcriptional regulation of the genes encoding for the cannabinoid CB1 receptor (Cnr1) and the dopamine D2 receptor (Drd2) in perinatal THC-(pTHC) exposed male rats, focusing on the role of DNA methylation analyzed by pyrosequencing. Simultaneously, the molecular and behavioral abnormalities at two different time points (i.e., neonatal age and adulthood) and the potential preventive effect of peripubertal treatment with cannabidiol, a non-euphoric component of Cannabis, were assessed. The DRD2 methylation was also evaluated in a cohort of subjects with schizophrenia. We observed an increase in both Cnr1 and Drd2 mRNA levels selectively in the prefrontal cortex of adult pTHC-exposed rats with a consistent reduction in DNA methylation at the Drd2 regulatory region, paralleled by social withdrawal and cognitive impairment which were reversed by cannabidiol treatment. These adult abnormalities were preceded at neonatal age by delayed appearance of neonatal reflexes, higher Drd2 mRNA and lower 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) brain levels, which persisted till adulthood. Alterations of the epigenetic mark for DRD2 were also found in subjects with schizophrenia. Overall, reported data add further evidence to the dopamine-cannabinoid interaction in terms of DRD2 and CNR1 dysregulation which could be implicated in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia spectrum disorders, suggesting that cannabidiol treatment may normalize pTHC-induced psychopathology by modulating the altered dopaminergic activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Di Bartolomeo
- Faculty of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - Tibor Stark
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic; Neuronal Plasticity Research Group, Department of Stress Neurobiology and Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
| | - Oriana Maria Maurel
- Neuronal Plasticity Research Group, Department of Stress Neurobiology and Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany; Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Fabio Arturo Iannotti
- Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Endocannabinoid Research Group, Naples, Italy
| | - Martin Kuchar
- Forensic Laboratory of Biologically Active Substances, Department of Chemistry of Natural Compounds, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Prague, Czech Republic; National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czech Republic
| | - Jana Ruda-Kucerova
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Fabiana Piscitelli
- Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Endocannabinoid Research Group, Naples, Italy
| | - Samuele Laudani
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Vladimir Pekarik
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Salvatore Salomone
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Beatrice Arosio
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy; Fondazione Ca' Granda, IRCCS, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Raphael Mechoulam
- Institute for Drug Research, Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Mauro Maccarrone
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy; European Center for Brain Research, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - Filippo Drago
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Carsten T Wotjak
- Neuronal Plasticity Research Group, Department of Stress Neurobiology and Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany; Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & KO KG, Germany
| | - Vincenzo Di Marzo
- Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Endocannabinoid Research Group, Naples, Italy; Canada Excellence Research Chair on the Microbiome-Endocannabinoidome Axis in Metabolic, Health, Université Laval, Quebec City, Canada; Joint International Unit on Chemical and Biomolecular Research on the Microbiome and its Impact on Metabolic Health and Nutrition (UMI-MicroMeNu), between Université Laval and Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, CNR, Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Matteo Vismara
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences 'Luigi Sacco', University of Milan, Milan, Italy; Department of Mental Health, ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco, Milan, Italy
| | - Bernardo Dell'Osso
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences 'Luigi Sacco', University of Milan, Milan, Italy; Department of Mental Health, ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco, Milan, Italy; "Aldo Ravelli" Research Center for Neurotechnology and Experimental Brain Therapeutics, Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan Medical School, Milan, Italy; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, California, USA
| | - Claudio D'Addario
- Faculty of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy; Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Vincenzo Micale
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Catania, Catania, Italy; National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czech Republic.
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Paul SE, Hatoum AS, Fine JD, Johnson EC, Hansen I, Karcher NR, Moreau AL, Bondy E, Qu Y, Carter EB, Rogers CE, Agrawal A, Barch DM, Bogdan R. Associations Between Prenatal Cannabis Exposure and Childhood Outcomes: Results From the ABCD Study. JAMA Psychiatry 2021; 78:64-76. [PMID: 32965490 PMCID: PMC7512132 DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2020.2902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 139] [Impact Index Per Article: 46.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
IMPORTANCE In light of increasing cannabis use among pregnant women, the US Surgeon General recently issued an advisory against the use of marijuana during pregnancy. OBJECTIVE To evaluate whether cannabis use during pregnancy is associated with adverse outcomes among offspring. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS In this cross-sectional study, data were obtained from the baseline session of the ongoing longitudinal Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development Study, which recruited 11 875 children aged 9 to 11 years, as well as a parent or caregiver, from 22 sites across the United States between June 1, 2016, and October 15, 2018. EXPOSURE Prenatal cannabis exposure prior to and after maternal knowledge of pregnancy. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Symptoms of psychopathology in children (ie, psychotic-like experiences [PLEs] and internalizing, externalizing, attention, thought, and social problems), cognition, sleep, birth weight, gestational age at birth, body mass index, and brain structure (ie, total intracranial volume, white matter volume, and gray matter volume). Covariates included familial (eg, income and familial psychopathology), pregnancy (eg, prenatal exposure to alcohol and tobacco), and child (eg, substance use) variables. RESULTS Among 11 489 children (5997 boys [52.2%]; mean [SD] age, 9.9 [0.6] years) with nonmissing prenatal cannabis exposure data, 655 (5.7%) were exposed to cannabis prenatally. Relative to no exposure, cannabis exposure only before (413 [3.6%]) and after (242 [2.1%]) maternal knowledge of pregnancy were associated with greater offspring psychopathology characteristics (ie, PLEs and internalizing, externalizing, attention, thought and, social problems), sleep problems, and body mass index, as well as lower cognition and gray matter volume (all |β| > 0.02; all false discovery rate [FDR]-corrected P < .03). Only exposure after knowledge of pregnancy was associated with lower birth weight as well as total intracranial volume and white matter volumes relative to no exposure and exposure only before knowledge (all |β| > 0.02; all FDR-corrected P < .04). When including potentially confounding covariates, exposure after maternal knowledge of pregnancy remained associated with greater PLEs and externalizing, attention, thought, and social problems (all β > 0.02; FDR-corrected P < .02). Exposure only prior to maternal knowledge of pregnancy did not differ from no exposure on any outcomes when considering potentially confounding variables (all |β| < 0.02; FDR-corrected P > .70). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE This study suggests that prenatal cannabis exposure and its correlated factors are associated with greater risk for psychopathology during middle childhood. Cannabis use during pregnancy should be discouraged.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E. Paul
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, Missouri
| | - Alexander S. Hatoum
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri
| | - Jeremy D. Fine
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, Missouri
| | - Emma C. Johnson
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri
| | - Isabella Hansen
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, Missouri
| | - Nicole R. Karcher
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, Missouri
| | - Allison L. Moreau
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, Missouri
| | - Erin Bondy
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, Missouri
| | - Yueyue Qu
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, Missouri
| | - Ebony B. Carter
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis, St Louis, Missouri
| | - Cynthia E. Rogers
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri
| | - Arpana Agrawal
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri
| | - Deanna M. Barch
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, Missouri,Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri
| | - Ryan Bogdan
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, Missouri
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38
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Paraíso-Luna J, Aguareles J, Martín R, Ayo-Martín AC, Simón-Sánchez S, García-Rincón D, Costas-Insua C, García-Taboada E, de Salas-Quiroga A, Díaz-Alonso J, Liste I, Sánchez-Prieto J, Cappello S, Guzmán M, Galve-Roperh I. Endocannabinoid signalling in stem cells and cerebral organoids drives differentiation to deep layer projection neurons via CB 1 receptors. Development 2020; 147:226034. [PMID: 33168583 DOI: 10.1242/dev.192161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Accepted: 11/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The endocannabinoid (eCB) system, via the cannabinoid CB1 receptor, regulates neurodevelopment by controlling neural progenitor proliferation and neurogenesis. CB1 receptor signalling in vivo drives corticofugal deep layer projection neuron development through the regulation of BCL11B and SATB2 transcription factors. Here, we investigated the role of eCB signalling in mouse pluripotent embryonic stem cell-derived neuronal differentiation. Characterization of the eCB system revealed increased expression of eCB-metabolizing enzymes, eCB ligands and CB1 receptors during neuronal differentiation. CB1 receptor knockdown inhibited neuronal differentiation of deep layer neurons and increased upper layer neuron generation, and this phenotype was rescued by CB1 re-expression. Pharmacological regulation with CB1 receptor agonists or elevation of eCB tone with a monoacylglycerol lipase inhibitor promoted neuronal differentiation of deep layer neurons at the expense of upper layer neurons. Patch-clamp analyses revealed that enhancing cannabinoid signalling facilitated neuronal differentiation and functionality. Noteworthy, incubation with CB1 receptor agonists during human iPSC-derived cerebral organoid formation also promoted the expansion of BCL11B+ neurons. These findings unveil a cell-autonomous role of eCB signalling that, via the CB1 receptor, promotes mouse and human deep layer cortical neuron development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Paraíso-Luna
- Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS) and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), 28049 Madrid, Spain.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Complutense University, Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Neuroquímica (IUIN), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - José Aguareles
- Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS) and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), 28049 Madrid, Spain.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Complutense University, Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Neuroquímica (IUIN), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Ricardo Martín
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Complutense University, Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Neuroquímica (IUIN), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Ane C Ayo-Martín
- Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, 80804 Munich, Germany.,International Max Planck Research School for Translational Psychiatry (IMPRS-TP), 80804 Munich, Germany
| | - Samuel Simón-Sánchez
- Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS) and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), 28049 Madrid, Spain.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Complutense University, Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Neuroquímica (IUIN), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Daniel García-Rincón
- Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS) and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), 28049 Madrid, Spain.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Complutense University, Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Neuroquímica (IUIN), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Carlos Costas-Insua
- Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS) and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), 28049 Madrid, Spain.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Complutense University, Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Neuroquímica (IUIN), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Elena García-Taboada
- Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS) and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), 28049 Madrid, Spain.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Complutense University, Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Neuroquímica (IUIN), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Adán de Salas-Quiroga
- Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS) and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), 28049 Madrid, Spain.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Complutense University, Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Neuroquímica (IUIN), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier Díaz-Alonso
- Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS) and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), 28049 Madrid, Spain.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Complutense University, Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Neuroquímica (IUIN), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Isabel Liste
- Unidad de Regeneración Neural, Unidad Funcional de Investigación de Enfermedades Crónicas (UFIEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), 28220 Madrid, Spain
| | - José Sánchez-Prieto
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Complutense University, Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Neuroquímica (IUIN), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Manuel Guzmán
- Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS) and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), 28049 Madrid, Spain.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Complutense University, Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Neuroquímica (IUIN), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Ismael Galve-Roperh
- Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS) and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), 28049 Madrid, Spain.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Complutense University, Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Neuroquímica (IUIN), 28040 Madrid, Spain
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39
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Affiliation(s)
- Anick Bérard
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Montreal and CHU Ste-Justine, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. .,Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Faculty of Medicine, Lyon, France.
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40
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Perinatal THC exposure via lactation induces lasting alterations to social behavior and prefrontal cortex function in rats at adulthood. Neuropsychopharmacology 2020; 45:1826-1833. [PMID: 32428929 PMCID: PMC7608083 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-020-0716-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2020] [Revised: 04/16/2020] [Accepted: 05/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Cannabis is the world's most widely abused illicit drug and consumption amongst women during and surrounding the period of pregnancy is increasing. Previously, we have shown that cannabinoid exposure via lactation during the early postnatal period disrupts early developmental trajectories of prefrontal cortex maturation and induces behavioral abnormalities during the first weeks of life in male and female rat progeny. Here, we investigated the lasting consequences of this postnatal cannabinoid exposure on synaptic and behavioral parameters in the adult offspring of ∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)-treated dams. At adulthood, these perinatally THC-exposed rats exhibits deficits in social discrimination accompanied by an overall augmentation of social exploratory behavior. These behavioral alterations were further correlated with multiple abnormalities in synaptic plasticity in the prefrontal cortex, including lost endocannabinoid-mediated long-term depression (LTD), lost long-term potentiation and augmented mGlu2/3-LTD. Finally, basic parameters of intrinsic excitability at prefrontal cortex pyramidal neurons were similarly altered by the perinatal THC exposure. Thus, perinatal THC exposure via lactation induces lasting deficits in behavior and synaptic function which persist into adulthood life in male and female progeny.
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41
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Maternal Exposure to the Cannabinoid Agonist WIN 55,12,2 during Lactation Induces Lasting Behavioral and Synaptic Alterations in the Rat Adult Offspring of Both Sexes. eNeuro 2020; 7:ENEURO.0144-20.2020. [PMID: 32868310 PMCID: PMC7540927 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0144-20.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2020] [Revised: 07/09/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Consumption of cannabis during pregnancy and the lactation period is a rising public health concern (Scheyer et al., 2019). Exposure to synthetic or plant-derived cannabinoids via lactation disrupts the development of GABAergic neurons in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and alters early-life behaviors (Scheyer et al., 2020b). Recently, additional data revealed that Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) perinatal exposure via lactation causes lasting behavioral and neuronal consequences (Scheyer et al., 2020a). Here, the long-term effects in adult offspring of maternal exposure to the synthetic cannabinoid agonist WIN 55,12,2 are reported. The data demonstrate that rats exposed during lactation to WIN display social and motivational deficits at adulthood. These behavioral changes were paralleled by a specific loss of endocannabinoid-mediated long-term depression (eCB-LTD) in the PFC and nucleus accumbens (NAc), while other forms of synaptic plasticity remained intact. Thus, similarly to THC, perinatal WIN exposure via lactation induces behavioral and synaptic abnormalities lasting into adulthood.
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42
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Schiavi S, Carbone E, Melancia F, Buzzelli V, Manduca A, Campolongo P, Pallottini V, Trezza V. Perinatal supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids corrects the aberrant social and cognitive traits observed in a genetic model of autism based on FMR1 deletion in rats. Nutr Neurosci 2020; 25:898-911. [PMID: 32912100 DOI: 10.1080/1028415x.2020.1819107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Background and objective: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder for which no treatments exist. Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the most common form of inherited mental retardation and the most frequent monogenic cause of ASD. Given the lack of pharmacological treatments for ASD, increasing interest is devoted to non-pharmacological approaches, including dietary interventions. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are critical for neurobehavioraldevelopment. This study had two aims: 1. To validatethe recently developed Fmr1-Δexon 8 rat model of FXS; 2. To assess the impact of omega-3 PUFAs dietary supplementation during pregnancy and lactation on the altered behavior displayed by Fmr1-Δexon 8 rats.Methods: Female Fmr1-Δexon 8 and wild-type Sprague-Dawley rats were fed with either an omega-3 PUFAs enriched diet or with an isocaloric control diet during pregnancy and lactation. Behavioral experiments were carried out on the infant (Postnatal days (PNDs) 9 and 13), juvenile (PND 35) and adult (PND 90) male offspring.Results: Fmr1-Δexon 8 pups showed hypolocomotion, reduced ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) emission and impaired social discrimination compared to wild-type controls. Juvenile and adult Fmr1-Δexon 8 rats showed deficits in the social and cognitive domains, that were counteracted by perinatal omega-3 PUFAs supplementation.Conclusion: Our results support the validity of the Fmr1-Δexon 8 rat model to mimic key autistic-like features and support an important role of omega-3 PUFAs during of neurodevelopment. Although the mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of omega-3 PUFAs supplementation in ASD needs to be clarified, this dietary intervention holds promise to mitigate core and comorbid autistic features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Schiavi
- Department of Science, University 'Roma Tre', Rome Italy
| | - Emilia Carbone
- Department of Science, University 'Roma Tre', Rome Italy
| | | | | | | | - Patrizia Campolongo
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.,Neurobiology of Behavior Laboratory, Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Viviana Trezza
- Department of Science, University 'Roma Tre', Rome Italy
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43
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Weimar HV, Wright HR, Warrick CR, Brown AM, Lugo JM, Freels TG, McLaughlin RJ. Long-term effects of maternal cannabis vapor exposure on emotional reactivity, social behavior, and behavioral flexibility in offspring. Neuropharmacology 2020; 179:108288. [PMID: 32860776 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2020.108288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2020] [Revised: 08/11/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
The use of cannabis during pregnancy is a growing public health concern. As more countries implement legislation permitting recreational cannabis use, there is an urgent need to better understand its impact on fetal neurodevelopment and its long-term effects in exposed offspring. Studies examining effects of prenatal cannabis exposure typically employ injections of synthetic cannabinoids or isolated cannabis constituents that may not accurately model cannabis use in human populations. To address this limitation, we developed a novel e-cigarette technology-based system to deliver vaporized cannabis extracts to pregnant Long Evans rats. We used this model to determine effects of prenatal cannabis exposure on emotional, social, and cognitive endpoints of male and female offspring during early development and into adulthood. Dams were exposed to cannabis vapor (CANTHC: 400 mg/ml), vehicle vapor (VEH), or no vapor (AIR) twice daily during mating and gestation. Offspring exposed to CANTHC and VEH showed reduced weight gain relative to AIR offspring prior to weaning. CANTHC offspring made more isolation-induced ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) on postnatal day 6 (P6) relative to VEH-exposed offspring, which is indicative of increased emotional reactivity. Male CANTHC offspring engaged in fewer social investigation behaviors than VEH-exposed male offspring during a social play test on P26. In adulthood, CANTHC-exposed offspring spent less time exploring the open arms of the elevated plus maze and exhibited dose-dependent deficits in behavioral flexibility in an attentional set-shifting task relative to AIR controls. These data collectively indicate that prenatal cannabis exposure may cause enduring effects on the behavioral profile of offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Halle V Weimar
- Departments of Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience, Washington State University, WA, USA
| | - Hayden R Wright
- Departments of Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience, Washington State University, WA, USA
| | - Collin R Warrick
- Departments of Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience, Washington State University, WA, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Amanda M Brown
- Departments of Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience, Washington State University, WA, USA
| | - Janelle M Lugo
- Departments of Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience, Washington State University, WA, USA
| | - Timothy G Freels
- Departments of Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience, Washington State University, WA, USA
| | - Ryan J McLaughlin
- Departments of Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience, Washington State University, WA, USA; Department of Psychology, Washington State University, WA, USA.
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44
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Castel P, Barbier M, Poumerol E, Mandon-Pépin B, Tassistro V, Lepidi H, Pelissier-Alicot AL, Manzoni OJ, Courbiere B. Prenatal cannabinoid exposure alters the ovarian reserve in adult offspring of rats. Arch Toxicol 2020; 94:4131-4141. [PMID: 32833042 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-020-02877-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2020] [Accepted: 08/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
In animals, research in the past two decades has demonstrated the strong involvement of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) in numerous steps of the reproductive process, including ovarian physiology. Reproductive lifespan is closely related to the number of nongrowing ovarian follicles, called ovarian reserve (OR), which is definitively established during foetal life. Thus, OR damage may lead to poor reproductive outcomes and a shortened reproductive lifespan. We investigated whether prenatal ECS modulation had an effect on the OR at different ages in the rat offspring. Four groups of gestating female rats (F0) were exposed to the CB1-/CB2-receptor agonist WIN55212 (0.5 mg/kg), the CB1R inverse agonist SR141716 (3 mg/kg) or Δ9THC (5 mg/kg) and were compared to negative control groups. OR was histologically assessed at different postnatal timepoints (F1 individuals): postnatal day (PND) 6, PND40 and PND90. At PND6, prenatal exposure had no effect on OR. In the young adult group (PND90) exposed during gestation to WIN55212, we observed a CB1R-mediated delayed OR decrease, which was reversed by prenatal CB1R blockade by SR141716. Conversely, after prenatal SR141716 exposure, we observed higher OR counts at PND90. RT-PCR experiments also showed that prenatal ECS modulation perturbed the mRNA levels of ECS enzymes and OR regulation genes. Our findings support the role of the ECS in OR regulation during the foetal life of rats and highlight the need for further studies to elucidate its precise role in OR physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Castel
- Aix Marseille Univ, Avignon Université, CNRS, IRD, IMBE, Marseille, France. .,Aix Marseille Univ, IMBE, CHU Conception, Service de Gynécologie-Obstétrique, Marseille, France.
| | - Magalie Barbier
- Aix Marseille Univ, Avignon Université, CNRS, IRD, IMBE, Marseille, France
| | - Elodie Poumerol
- UMR BDR, INRA, ENVA, Université Paris Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, 78350, France
| | | | - Virginie Tassistro
- Aix Marseille Univ, Avignon Université, CNRS, IRD, IMBE, Marseille, France
| | - Hubert Lepidi
- Aix Marseille Univ, APHM, Laboratoire d'anatomie pathologique, Marseille, France
| | - Anne-Laure Pelissier-Alicot
- INMED, INSERM U1249, Marseille, France.,Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France.,Cannalab Cannabinoids Neuroscience Research International Associated Laboratory, INSERM-Aix-Marseille University/Indiana University, Marseille, France.,Aix Marseille Univ, APHM, CHU Timone, Service de Medecine Legale, Marseille, France
| | - Olivier J Manzoni
- INMED, INSERM U1249, Marseille, France.,Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France.,Cannalab Cannabinoids Neuroscience Research International Associated Laboratory, INSERM-Aix-Marseille University/Indiana University, Marseille, France
| | - Blandine Courbiere
- Aix Marseille Univ, Avignon Université, CNRS, IRD, IMBE, Marseille, France.,Aix Marseille Univ, IMBE, CHU Conception, Service de Gynécologie-Obstétrique, Marseille, France
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45
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Grant KS, Conover E, Chambers CD. Update on the developmental consequences of cannabis use during pregnancy and lactation. Birth Defects Res 2020; 112:1126-1138. [PMID: 32770666 DOI: 10.1002/bdr2.1766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2020] [Revised: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 06/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
There is a strong increase in prevalence trends for cannabis use during pregnancy and lactation as more states legalize use of this drug. Information on the teratogenic risk of cannabis is limited but some important themes can be gleaned. Studies have not found a unique phenotypic signature of prenatal exposure but an increased risk of congenital anomalies, particularly gastroschisis, has been reported. Changes in fetal growth have been described in some epidemiological studies but long-term patterns of physical growth appear unaffected. Prenatal exposure to cannabis is not generally associated with reductions in global IQ but specific cognitive skills, especially attention and memory, can be negatively impacted. Long-term impacts on psychological health include increased rates of depressive symptoms and anxiety as well as delinquency. Relatively little is known about the risk of maternal cannabis use during lactation but data suggest that infant exposure is relatively low compared to maternal exposure. As delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) levels increase to meet consumer demand and routes of exposure diversify, there is a strong need for prospective birth-cohort studies that collect biological samples to quantify exposure. Data from such studies will be critical to overcoming the weaknesses of past cannabis research and are essential to establishing reliable information on the risks of maternal use. Until that time, health care providers should be encouraged to talk about the risks and benefits associated with cannabis use during pregnancy and lactation with their patients, emphasizing that fetal and neonatal risks cannot be excluded at this time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly S Grant
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.,Washington National Primate Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Elizabeth Conover
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Munroe-Meyer Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Christina D Chambers
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
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Miranda CC, Barata T, Vaz SH, Ferreira C, Quintas A, Bekman EP. hiPSC-Based Model of Prenatal Exposure to Cannabinoids: Effect on Neuronal Differentiation. Front Mol Neurosci 2020; 13:119. [PMID: 32733202 PMCID: PMC7357827 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2020.00119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2020] [Accepted: 06/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Phytocannabinoids are psychotropic substances ofcannabis with the ability to bind endocannabinoid (eCB) receptors that regulate synaptic activity in the central nervous system (CNS). Synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) are synthetic analogs of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), the psychotropic compound of cannabis, acting as agonists of eCB receptor CB1. SC is an easily available and popular alternative to cannabis, and their molecular structure is always changing, increasing the hazard for the general population. The popularity of cannabis and its derivatives may lead, and often does, to a child's exposure to cannabis both in utero and through breastfeeding by a drug-consuming mother. Prenatal exposure to cannabis has been associated with an altered rate of mental development and significant changes in nervous system functioning. However, the understanding of mechanisms of its action on developing the human CNS is still lacking. We investigated the effect of continuous exposure to cannabinoids on developing human neurons, mimicking the prenatal exposure by drug-consuming mother. Two human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) lines were induced to differentiate into neuronal cells and exposed for 37 days to cannabidiol (CBD), Δ9-THC, and two SCs, THJ-018 and EG-018. Both Δ9-THC and SC, at 10 μM, promote precocious neuronal and glial differentiation, while CBD at the same concentration is neurotoxic. Neurons exposed to Δ9-THC and SC show abnormal functioning of voltage-gated calcium channels when stimulated by extracellular potassium. In sum, all studied substances have a profound impact on the developing neurons, highlighting the importance of thorough research on the impact of prenatal exposure to natural and SC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cláudia C Miranda
- Department of Bioengineering and iBB-Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisbon, Lisbona, Portugal
| | - Tiago Barata
- Department of Bioengineering and iBB-Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisbon, Lisbona, Portugal
| | - Sandra H Vaz
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Carla Ferreira
- Molecular Pathology and Forensic Biochemistry Laboratory, CiiEM, Campus Universitário Quinta da Granja, Monte da Caparica, Caparica, Portugal.,Forensic and Psychological Sciences Laboratory Egas Moniz, Campus Universitário Quinta da Granja, Monte da Caparica, Caparica, Portugal
| | - Alexandre Quintas
- Molecular Pathology and Forensic Biochemistry Laboratory, CiiEM, Campus Universitário Quinta da Granja, Monte da Caparica, Caparica, Portugal.,Forensic and Psychological Sciences Laboratory Egas Moniz, Campus Universitário Quinta da Granja, Monte da Caparica, Caparica, Portugal
| | - Evguenia P Bekman
- Department of Bioengineering and iBB-Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisbon, Lisbona, Portugal.,Instituto de Medicina Molecular, João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.,The Discoveries Centre for Regenerative and Precision Medicine, Lisbon, Portugal
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Cannabis is a naturally occurring plant that is composed of over sixty phytocannabinoids, of which cannabidiol (CBD) has been recently identified as having therapeutic potential. RECENT FINDINGS Although not clearly understood in its mechanism of action, CBD contains potent anti-inflammatory, anti-hyperalgesia, and analgesic qualities now being further analyzed for its use in the treatment of a plethora of diseases. Related to its large safety profile and lack of psychoactive effects typically associated with cannabis and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), CBD is being used more frequently for self-treatment of chronic pain, anxiety, and depression. With the help of broad marketing, CBD is being used by numerous people, including pregnant women who use CBD as an anti-emetic. Since marijuana is legalized in many states in the USA, the use of CBD has increased not only in the general population but also in specific groups such as pregnant women with chronic pain. Despite CBD's accessibility, there are limited studies showing its safety during pregnancy. While the use of cannabis has been well explored in terms of the effects on pregnancy, the use of CBD during pregnancy thus far has limited literature. The goal of this investigation is to impart the current understanding of CBD and its effects of pregnancy.
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Prenatal THC exposure raises kynurenic acid levels in the prefrontal cortex of adult rats. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2020; 100:109883. [PMID: 32032697 PMCID: PMC7260707 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2020.109883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2020] [Revised: 01/31/2020] [Accepted: 02/03/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Cannabis remains one of the most widely used illicit drugs during pregnancy. The main psychoactive component of marijuana (Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol, THC) is correlated with untoward physiological effects in the offspring. Neurobehavioral and cognitive impairments have been reported in longitudinal studies on children and adolescents prenatally exposed to marijuana, and a link to psychiatric disorders has been proposed. Interestingly, the deleterious effects of prenatal cannabis use are similar to those observed in adult rats prenatally exposed to (L)-kynurenine, the direct bioprecursor of the neuroactive metabolite kynurenic acid (KYNA). We therefore investigated whether alterations in KYNA levels in the rat brain might play a role in the long-term consequences of prenatal cannabinoid exposure. Pregnant Wistar rats were treated daily with THC [5 mg/kg, p.o.] from gestational day (GD)5 through GD20. Using in vivo microdialysis in the medial prefrontal cortex, adult animals were then used to determine the extracellular levels of KYNA and glutamate. Compared to controls, extracellular basal KYNA levels were higher, and basal glutamate levels were lower, in prenatally THC-exposed rats. These rats also showed abnormal short-term memory. Following an additional acute challenge with a low dose of kynurenine (5 mg/kg i.p.) in adulthood, the increase in extracellular KYNA levels in the mPFC was more pronounced in in prenatally THC-exposed rats. These effects could be causally related to the cognitive dysfunction seen in prenatally THC-exposed rats. In the translational realm, these experiments raise the prospect of prevention of KYNA neosynthesis as a promising novel approach to combat some of the detrimental long-term effects of prenatal cannabis use.
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Traccis F, Frau R, Melis M. Gender Differences in the Outcome of Offspring Prenatally Exposed to Drugs of Abuse. Front Behav Neurosci 2020; 14:72. [PMID: 32581736 PMCID: PMC7291924 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2020.00072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2019] [Accepted: 04/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite great efforts to warn pregnant women that drugs of abuse impact development of the embryo and the fetus, the use of legal and illegal drugs by childbearing women is still a major public health concern. In parallel with well-established teratogenic effects elicited by some drugs of abuse, epidemiological studies show that certain psychoactive substances do not induce birth defects but lead to subtle neurobehavioral alterations in the offspring that manifest as early as during infancy. Although gender differences in offspring susceptibility have not been fully investigated, a number of longitudinal studies indicate that male and female progeny exposed in utero to drugs of abuse show different vulnerabilities to deleterious effects of these substances in cognitive, executive, and behavioral domains. Here, we briefly review the existing literature focusing on gender differences in the neurobehavioral consequences of maternal exposure to drugs of abuse. Overall, the data strongly indicate that male exposed progeny are more susceptible than female to dysfunctions in cognitive processing and emotional regulation. However, insights into the mechanisms determining this natural phenomenon are not currently available. Our analysis prompts future investigations to implement clinical studies including the influence of gender/sex as a biological variable in the outcome of offspring prenatally exposed to drugs of abuse.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Miriam Melis
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Division of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
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50
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Krebs MO, Demars F, Frajerman A, Kebir O, Jay T. [Neurodevelopment and cannabis]. BULLETIN DE L'ACADEMIE NATIONALE DE MEDECINE 2020; 204:561-569. [PMID: 32308209 PMCID: PMC7162744 DOI: 10.1016/j.banm.2020.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2019] [Accepted: 04/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Brain development is a complex phenomenon, stretching from fetal life to adolescence, during which brain maturation proceeds through a series of ordered events including critical periods of plasticity. The brain is particularly sensitive to the environment during these changes. The endocannabinoid system participates directly and indirectly in these plasticity and maturation processes. The main psychoactive component of cannabis, the delta-9-tetrahydrocanabinol, can cross the placental barrier, is present in breastmilk and diffuses in the brain. It interacts with the endocannabinoid signaling, especially through the activation of cannabinoid receptors 1 CB1R, which can lead to abnormal neurodevelopmental processes and neuronal circuits functions. Therefore, exposure to cannabis in utero, in perinatal phase, as well as during the adolescence disrupts the brain maturation and can cause disturbances on the cognitive, psychotic and addictive levels that persist far beyond the period of exposure. Several factors modulate the risk of such complications, but studies performed in animal models as well as in human cohorts have shown that exposure during both the critical perinatal and adolescence phases is a risk factor per se. Current knowledge encourages the dissemination of objective information to young people, to prevent and limit early exposure and its consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- M.-O. Krebs
- Pôle hospitalo-universitaire évaluation, prévention et innovation thérapeutique, centre d’évaluation pour jeunes adultes et adolescents (CJAAD), GHU psychiatrie et neurosciences, site Sainte-Anne, 1, rue Cabanis, 75014 Paris, France
| | - F. Demars
- Pôle hospitalo-universitaire évaluation, prévention et innovation thérapeutique, centre d’évaluation pour jeunes adultes et adolescents (CJAAD), GHU psychiatrie et neurosciences, site Sainte-Anne, 1, rue Cabanis, 75014 Paris, France
| | - A. Frajerman
- Pôle hospitalo-universitaire évaluation, prévention et innovation thérapeutique, centre d’évaluation pour jeunes adultes et adolescents (CJAAD), GHU psychiatrie et neurosciences, site Sainte-Anne, 1, rue Cabanis, 75014 Paris, France
| | - O. Kebir
- Pôle hospitalo-universitaire évaluation, prévention et innovation thérapeutique, centre d’évaluation pour jeunes adultes et adolescents (CJAAD), GHU psychiatrie et neurosciences, site Sainte-Anne, 1, rue Cabanis, 75014 Paris, France
- Pôle hospitalo-universitaire 15è, service d’addictologie, GHU psychiatrie et neurosciences, Paris, France
| | - T. Jay
- Pôle hospitalo-universitaire évaluation, prévention et innovation thérapeutique, centre d’évaluation pour jeunes adultes et adolescents (CJAAD), GHU psychiatrie et neurosciences, site Sainte-Anne, 1, rue Cabanis, 75014 Paris, France
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