1
|
Boer OD, Franken IHA, Muetzel RL, Cousijn J, El Marroun H. Examining associations between brain morphology in late childhood and early alcohol or tobacco use initiation in adolescence: Findings from a large prospective cohort. Biol Psychol 2024; 192:108859. [PMID: 39233273 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2024.108859] [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: 04/17/2024] [Revised: 07/17/2024] [Accepted: 08/30/2024] [Indexed: 09/06/2024]
Abstract
A prominent challenge in understanding neural consequences of substance use involves disentangling predispositional risk factors from resulting consequences of substance use. Existing literature has identified pre-existing brain variations as vulnerability markers for substance use throughout adolescence. As early initiation of use is an important predictor for later substance use problems, we examined whether pre-existing brain variations are associated with early initiation of use. In the Generation R Study, a prospective population-based cohort, brain morphology (gray matter volume, cortical thickness and surface area) was assessed at ages 10 and 14 using neuroimaging. In the second wave, participants reported on alcohol and tobacco use initiation. From a base study population (N = 3019), we examined the longitudinal (N = 2218) and cross-sectional (N = 1817) association between brain morphology of frontolimbic regions of interest known to be associated with substance use risk, and very early (age < 13) alcohol/tobacco use initiation. Additionally, longitudinal and cross-sectional associations were examined with a brain surface-based approach. Models were adjusted for age at neuroimaging, sex and relevant sociodemographic factors. No associations were found between brain morphology (ages 10 and 14) and early alcohol/tobacco use initiation (<13 years). Sex-specific analyses suggested a cross-sectional association between smaller brain volume and early initiated tobacco use in girls. Our findings are important for interpreting studies examining neural consequences of substance use in the general population. Future longitudinal studies are needed to specify whether these findings can be extended to initiation and continuation of alcohol/tobacco use in later stages of adolescence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Olga D Boer
- Center for Substance Use and Addiction Research (CESAR), Department of Psychology, Education and Child Studies, Erasmus School of Social and Behavioral Science, Erasmus University Rotterdam, 3000 DR Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Erasmus MC, Sophia Children's Hospital, 3000 CB Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Ingmar H A Franken
- Center for Substance Use and Addiction Research (CESAR), Department of Psychology, Education and Child Studies, Erasmus School of Social and Behavioral Science, Erasmus University Rotterdam, 3000 DR Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Ryan L Muetzel
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Erasmus MC, Sophia Children's Hospital, 3000 CB Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, the Netherlands
| | - Janna Cousijn
- Center for Substance Use and Addiction Research (CESAR), Department of Psychology, Education and Child Studies, Erasmus School of Social and Behavioral Science, Erasmus University Rotterdam, 3000 DR Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Hanan El Marroun
- Center for Substance Use and Addiction Research (CESAR), Department of Psychology, Education and Child Studies, Erasmus School of Social and Behavioral Science, Erasmus University Rotterdam, 3000 DR Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Erasmus MC, Sophia Children's Hospital, 3000 CB Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Cooke ME, Knoll SJ, Streck JM, Potter K, Lamberth E, Rychik N, Gilman JM, Evins AE, Schuster RM. Contingency management is associated with positive changes in attitudes and reductions in cannabis use even after discontinuation of incentives among non-treatment seeking youth. Drug Alcohol Depend 2024; 256:111096. [PMID: 38277735 PMCID: PMC10923125 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2024.111096] [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] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/13/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND It is important to identify interventions that reduce harm in youth not motivated to change their cannabis use. This study evaluated how short-duration contingency management (CM) impacts cannabis use attitudes and behavior after abstinence incentives are discontinued among non-treatment seeking youth. METHODS Participants (N=220) were randomized to 4 weeks of abstinence-based CM (CB-Abst; n=126) or monitoring (CB-Mon; n=94). Participants completed self-report and provided biochemical measures of cannabis exposure at baseline, end-of-intervention, and 4-week follow-up. Changes in self-reported cannabis use frequency (days/week; times/week) and biochemically verified creatinine-adjusted 11-nor-9-carboxy-tetrahydrocannabinol concentrations (CN-THCCOOH) were analyzed between groups from baseline to follow-up. In CB-Abst, cannabis use goals at end-of-intervention were described and changes in cannabis use at follow-up were explored by goals and cannabis use disorder (CUD) diagnosis. RESULTS There was a group by visit interaction on cannabis use (days: beta=0.93, p=0.005; times: beta=0.71, p<0.001; CN-THCCOOH: beta=0.26, p=0.004), with reductions at follow-up detected only in CB-Abst. Following 4 weeks of abstinence, 68.4% of CB-Abst participants wanted to reduce or abstain from cannabis use following completion of CM. Those in CB-Abst who set end-of-intervention reduction goals and were without CUD had greater decreases in cannabis use frequency at follow-up (Goals*time on days/week: beta=-2.27, p<0.001; CUD*time on times/week: beta=0.48, SE=0.24, t=2.01, p=0.048). CONCLUSIONS Findings support the utility of brief incentivized abstinence for generating motivation to reduce cannabis use and behavior change even after incentives end. This study supports CM as a potentially viable harm reduction strategy for those not yet ready to quit.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Megan E Cooke
- Department of Psychiatry, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Sarah J Knoll
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, USA
| | - Joanna M Streck
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kevin Potter
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Erin Lamberth
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, USA
| | - Natali Rychik
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, USA
| | - Jodi M Gilman
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - A Eden Evins
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Randi M Schuster
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Boer OD, El Marroun H, Muetzel RL. Adolescent substance use initiation and long-term neurobiological outcomes: insights, challenges and opportunities. Mol Psychiatry 2024:10.1038/s41380-024-02471-2. [PMID: 38409597 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-024-02471-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
The increased frequency of risk taking behavior combined with marked neuromaturation has positioned adolescence as a focal point of research into the neural causes and consequences of substance use. However, little work has provided a summary of the links between adolescent initiated substance use and longer-term brain outcomes. Here we review studies exploring the long-term effects of adolescent-initiated substance use with structural and microstructural neuroimaging. A quarter of all studies reviewed conducted repeated neuroimaging assessments. Long-term alcohol use, as well as tobacco use were consistently associated with smaller frontal cortices and altered white matter microstructure. This association was mostly observed in the ACC, insula and subcortical regions in alcohol users, and for the OFC in tobacco users. Long-term cannabis use was mostly related to altered frontal cortices and hippocampal volumes. Interestingly, cannabis users scanned more years after use initiation tended to show smaller measures of these regions, whereas those with fewer years since initiation showed larger measures. Long-term stimulant use tended to show a similar trend as cannabis in terms of years since initiation in measures of the putamen, insula and frontal cortex. Long-term opioid use was mostly associated with smaller subcortical and insular volumes. Of note, null findings were reported in all substance use categories, most often in cannabis use studies. In the context of the large variety in study designs, substance use assessment, methods, and sample characteristics, we provide recommendations on how to interpret these findings, and considerations for future studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Olga D Boer
- Department of Psychology, Education and Child Studies - Erasmus School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center - Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Hanan El Marroun
- Department of Psychology, Education and Child Studies - Erasmus School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center - Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ryan L Muetzel
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center - Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Albaugh MD, Owens MM, Juliano A, Ottino-Gonzalez J, Cupertino R, Cao Z, Mackey S, Lepage C, Rioux P, Evans A, Banaschewski T, Bokde ALW, Conrod P, Desrivières S, Flor H, Grigis A, Gowland P, Heinz A, Ittermann B, Martinot JL, Martinot MLP, Artiges E, Nees F, Orfanos DP, Paus T, Poustka L, Millenet S, Fröhner JH, Smolka MN, Walter H, Whelan R, Schumann G, Potter A, Garavan H. Differential associations of adolescent versus young adult cannabis initiation with longitudinal brain change and behavior. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:5173-5182. [PMID: 37369720 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02148-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
Leveraging ~10 years of prospective longitudinal data on 704 participants, we examined the effects of adolescent versus young adult cannabis initiation on MRI-assessed cortical thickness development and behavior. Data were obtained from the IMAGEN study conducted across eight European sites. We identified IMAGEN participants who reported being cannabis-naïve at baseline and had data available at baseline, 5-year, and 9-year follow-up visits. Cannabis use was assessed with the European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Drugs. T1-weighted MR images were processed through the CIVET pipeline. Cannabis initiation occurring during adolescence (14-19 years) and young adulthood (19-22 years) was associated with differing patterns of longitudinal cortical thickness change. Associations between adolescent cannabis initiation and cortical thickness change were observed primarily in dorso- and ventrolateral portions of the prefrontal cortex. In contrast, cannabis initiation occurring between 19 and 22 years of age was associated with thickness change in temporal and cortical midline areas. Follow-up analysis revealed that longitudinal brain change related to adolescent initiation persisted into young adulthood and partially mediated the association between adolescent cannabis use and past-month cocaine, ecstasy, and cannabis use at age 22. Extent of cannabis initiation during young adulthood (from 19 to 22 years) had an indirect effect on psychotic symptoms at age 22 through thickness change in temporal areas. Results suggest that developmental timing of cannabis exposure may have a marked effect on neuroanatomical correlates of cannabis use as well as associated behavioral sequelae. Critically, this work provides a foundation for neurodevelopmentally informed models of cannabis exposure in humans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew D Albaugh
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA.
| | - Max M Owens
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
| | - Anthony Juliano
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
| | | | - Renata Cupertino
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
| | - Zhipeng Cao
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
| | - Scott Mackey
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
| | - Claude Lepage
- McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Pierre Rioux
- McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Alan Evans
- McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Tobias Banaschewski
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Square J5, 68159, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Arun L W Bokde
- Discipline of Psychiatry, School of Medicine and Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Patricia Conrod
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Sylvane Desrivières
- Centre for Population Neuroscience and Precision Medicine (PONS), Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, SGDP Centre, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Herta Flor
- Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Square J5, Mannheim, Germany
- Department of Psychology, School of Social Sciences, University of Mannheim, 68131, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Antoine Grigis
- NeuroSpin, CEA, Université Paris-Saclay, F-91191, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Penny Gowland
- Sir Peter Mansfield Imaging Centre School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Andreas Heinz
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy CCM, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Bernd Ittermann
- Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Braunschweig and Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jean-Luc Martinot
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, INSERM U A10 "Trajectoires développementales en psychiatrie", Université Paris-Saclay, Ecole Normale supérieure Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Centre Borelli, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Marie-Laure Paillère Martinot
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, INSERM U A10 "Trajectoires développementales en psychiatrie"; Université Paris-Saclay, Ecole Normale supérieure Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Centre Borelli; and AP-HP.Sorbonne Université, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris, France
| | - Eric Artiges
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, INSERM U1299 "Developmental trajectories & psychiatry""; Université Paris-Saclay, Ecole Normale supérieure Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Centre Borelli; Gif-sur-Yvette; and Etablissement Public de Santé (EPS) Barthélemy Durand, 91700, Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois, France
| | - Frauke Nees
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Square J5, 68159, Mannheim, Germany
- Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Square J5, Mannheim, Germany
- Institute of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Medical Center Schleswig Holstein, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
| | | | - Tomáš Paus
- Departments of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine and Centre Hospitaliere Universitaire Sainte-Justine, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, H3T 1C5, Canada
- Departments of Psychology and Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M6A 2E1, Canada
| | - Luise Poustka
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Centre Göttingen, von-Siebold-Str. 5, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Sabina Millenet
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Square J5, 68159, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Juliane H Fröhner
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroimaging Center, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Michael N Smolka
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroimaging Center, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Henrik Walter
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy CCM, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Robert Whelan
- School of Psychology and Global Brain Health Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Gunter Schumann
- Centre for Population Neuroscience and Precision Medicine (PONS), Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, SGDP Centre, King's College London, London, UK
- PONS Research Group, Dept of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Campus Charite Mitte, Humboldt University, Berlin and Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Magdeburg, Germany
- Institute for Science and Technology of Brain-inspired Intelligence (ISTBI), Fudan University, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Alexandra Potter
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
| | - Hugh Garavan
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Steinfeld MR, Torregrossa MM. Consequences of adolescent drug use. Transl Psychiatry 2023; 13:313. [PMID: 37802983 PMCID: PMC10558564 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-023-02590-4] [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] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 10/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Substance use in adolescence is a known risk factor for the development of neuropsychiatric and substance use disorders in adulthood. This is in part due to the fact that critical aspects of brain development occur during adolescence, which can be altered by drug use. Despite concerted efforts to educate youth about the potential negative consequences of substance use, initiation remains common amongst adolescents world-wide. Additionally, though there has been substantial research on the topic, many questions remain about the predictors and the consequences of adolescent drug use. In the following review, we will highlight some of the most recent literature on the neurobiological and behavioral effects of adolescent drug use in rodents, non-human primates, and humans, with a specific focus on alcohol, cannabis, nicotine, and the interactions between these substances. Overall, consumption of these substances during adolescence can produce long-lasting changes across a variety of structures and networks which can have enduring effects on behavior, emotion, and cognition.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael R Steinfeld
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, 450 Technology Drive, Pittsburgh, PA, 15219, USA.
- Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, 4200 Fifth Ave, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA.
| | - Mary M Torregrossa
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, 450 Technology Drive, Pittsburgh, PA, 15219, USA
- Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, 4200 Fifth Ave, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Bou Nassif Y, Rahioui H, Varescon I. Psychological Interventions for Cannabis Use among Adolescents and Young Adults: A Systematic Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:6346. [PMID: 37510578 PMCID: PMC10380066 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20146346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
Regular cannabis use during adolescence can lead to cognitive, psychological, and social consequences, causing significant distress. Although psychological interventions are the mainstay type of treatment for cannabis use disorder, the results remain mixed among youths. The objective of this review is twofold: to identify the existing psychological interventions for cannabis use among youths, and to assess the evidence regarding the effectiveness of those interventions. Randomized controlled trials focused exclusively on cannabis use among adolescents and young adults were included. Three databases-Embase, PsycInfo, and PubMed-were searched to identify relevant peer-reviewed manuscripts published before February 2022 in English and French. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration's tool. Twenty-five randomized controlled trials were included. Fourteen studies reported a significant outcome related to cannabis use. These were mainly non-intensive, online interventions that aimed to improve the patients' relationships and emotion regulation. This review highlights the need to conduct additional randomized control trials that target cannabis use disorder specifically among adolescents. These randomized control trials should also aim to reduce the risk of bias related to psychiatric comorbidities as well as detection and attrition problems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yara Bou Nassif
- Laboratoire de Psychopathologie et Processus de Santé, Université Paris Cité, 92100 Boulogne Billancourt, France
- Consultations en Addictologie pour Adolescent, Centre des Troubles de Neuro-Développement chez l'Adulte, Groupe Hospitalier Universitaire, Site Sainte-Anne, 75014 Paris, France
| | - Hassan Rahioui
- Consultations en Addictologie pour Adolescent, Centre des Troubles de Neuro-Développement chez l'Adulte, Groupe Hospitalier Universitaire, Site Sainte-Anne, 75014 Paris, France
| | - Isabelle Varescon
- Laboratoire de Psychopathologie et Processus de Santé, Université Paris Cité, 92100 Boulogne Billancourt, France
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Torrens A, Ruiz CM, Martinez MX, Tagne AM, Roy P, Grimes D, Ahmed F, Lallai V, Inshishian V, Bautista M, Chen YC, Huestis MA, Das A, Fowler CD, Mahler SV, Piomelli D. Nasal accumulation and metabolism of Δ 9-tetrahydrocannabinol following aerosol ('vaping') administration in an adolescent rat model. Pharmacol Res 2023; 187:106600. [PMID: 36481259 PMCID: PMC9845136 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2022.106600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Revised: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Passive aerosol exposure to Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in laboratory animals results in faster onset of action and less extensive liver metabolism compared to most other administration routes and might thus provide an ecologically relevant model of human cannabis inhalation. Previous studies have, however, overlooked the possibility that rodents, as obligate nose breathers, may accumulate aerosolized THC in the nasal cavity, from where the drug might directly diffuse to the brain. To test this, we administered THC (ten 5-s puffs of 100 mg/mL of THC) to adolescent (31-day-old) Sprague-Dawley rats of both sexes. We used liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry to quantify the drug and its first-pass metabolites - 11-hydroxy-Δ9-THC (11-OH-THC) and 11-nor-9-carboxy-Δ9-THC (11-COOH-THC) - in nasal mucosa, lungs, plasma, and brain (olfactory bulb and cerebellum) at various time points after exposure. Apparent maximal THC concentration and area under the curve were ∼5 times higher in nasal mucosa than in lungs and 50-80 times higher than in plasma. Concentrations of 11-OH-THC were also greater in nasal mucosa and lungs than other tissues, whereas 11-COOH-THC was consistently undetectable. Experiments with microsomal preparations confirmed local metabolism of THC into 11-OH-THC (not 11-COOH-THC) in nasal mucosa and lungs. Finally, whole-body exposure to THC deposited substantial amounts of THC (∼150 mg/g) on fur but suppressed post-exposure grooming in rats of both sexes. The results indicate that THC absorption and metabolism in nasal mucosa and lungs, but probably not gastrointestinal tract, contribute to the pharmacological effects of aerosolized THC in male and female rats.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexa Torrens
- Department and Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-4625, USA
| | - Christina M Ruiz
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-4625, USA
| | - Maricela X Martinez
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-4625, USA
| | - Alex Mabou Tagne
- Department and Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-4625, USA
| | - Pritam Roy
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61802, USA
| | - Dakota Grimes
- Department and Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-4625, USA
| | - Faizy Ahmed
- Department and Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-4625, USA
| | - Valeria Lallai
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-4625, USA
| | - Victoria Inshishian
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-4625, USA
| | - Malia Bautista
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-4625, USA
| | - Yen-Chu Chen
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-4625, USA
| | | | - Aditi Das
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61802, USA
| | - Christie D Fowler
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-4625, USA
| | - Stephen V Mahler
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-4625, USA
| | - Daniele Piomelli
- Department and Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-4625, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-4625, USA; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-4625, USA.
| |
Collapse
|