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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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Peterson CS, Baglot SL, Sallam NA, Mina S, Hill MN, Borgland SL. Oral pre- and early postnatal cannabis exposure disinhibits ventral tegmental area dopamine neuron activity but does not influence cocaine preference in offspring in mice. J Neurosci Res 2024; 102:e25369. [PMID: 39037062 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.25369] [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: 05/05/2024] [Revised: 07/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
Cannabis consumption has increased from 1.5% to 2.5% in Canada between 2012 and 2019. Clinical studies have indicated effects of prenatal cannabis exposure on birth weight, substance use, and neurodevelopmental disorders, but are confounded by several difficult to control variables. Animal models allow for examination of the mechanism of cannabis-induced changes in neurodevelopment and behavior, while controlling dose and timing. Several animal models of prenatal cannabis exposure exist which provide varying levels of construct validity, control of dose, and exposure to maternal stress. Using a voluntary oral consumption model, mouse dams received 5 mg/kg Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) whole cannabis oil in peanut butter daily from gestational day 1 (GD1) to postnatal day 10 (PD10). At GD1, GD18, PD1, PD10, and PD15, maternal plasma was collected; pup brains were collected from GD18 onward. Pup brains had higher levels of THC and cannabidiol at each time point, each of which persisted in maternal plasma and pup brains past the end of treatment (PD15). Male and female adolescent offspring were examined for changes to ventral tegmental area (VTA) dopamine neuron activity and cocaine-seeking behavior. Prenatal and early postnatal (GD1-PD10) cannabis-exposed male, but not female mice had decreased gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABAergic) input, depolarized resting membrane potential, and increased spontaneous firing of VTA dopamine neurons. Cannabis-exposed offspring showed faster decay of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) currents in both sexes. However, no differences in cocaine-seeking behavior were noted. These data characterize a voluntary prenatal cannabis exposure model and demonstrates VTA dopamine neuronal activity is disinhibited in offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colleen S Peterson
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Samantha L Baglot
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Psychiatry, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Nada A Sallam
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Sarah Mina
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Matthew N Hill
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Psychiatry, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Stephanie L Borgland
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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Riyahi J, Taslimi Z, Gelfo F, Petrosini L, Haghparast A. Trans-generational effects of parental exposure to drugs of abuse on offspring memory functions. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2024; 160:105644. [PMID: 38548003 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2024] [Revised: 03/10/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/01/2024]
Abstract
Recent evidence reported that parental-derived phenotypes can be passed on to the next generations. Within the inheritance of epigenetic characteristics allowing the transmission of information related to the ancestral environment to the offspring, the specific case of the trans-generational effects of parental drug addiction has been extensively studied. Drug addiction is a chronic disorder resulting from complex interactions among environmental, genetic, and drug-related factors. Repeated exposures to drugs induce epigenetic changes in the reward circuitry that in turn mediate enduring changes in brain function. Addictive drugs can exert their effects trans-generally and influence the offspring of addicted parents. Although there is growing evidence that shows a wide range of behavioral, physiological, and molecular phenotypes in inter-, multi-, and trans-generational studies, transmitted phenotypes often vary widely even within similar protocols. Given the breadth of literature findings, in the present review, we restricted our investigation to learning and memory performances, as examples of the offspring's complex behavioral outcomes following parental exposure to drugs of abuse, including morphine, cocaine, cannabinoids, nicotine, heroin, and alcohol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javad Riyahi
- Department of Cognitive and Behavioral Science and Technology in Sport, Faculty of Sport Sciences and Health, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zahra Taslimi
- Behavioral Disorders and Substance Abuse Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran; Fertility and Infertility Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.
| | - Francesca Gelfo
- IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy; Department of Human Sciences, Guglielmo Marconi University, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Abbas Haghparast
- Neuroscience Research Center, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; School of Cognitive Sciences, Institute for Research in Fundamental Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Basic Sciences, Iranian Academy of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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4
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Black T, Baccetto SL, Barnard IL, Finch E, McElroy DL, Austin-Scott FVL, Greba Q, Michel D, Zagzoog A, Howland JG, Laprairie RB. Characterization of cannabinoid plasma concentration, maternal health, and cytokine levels in a rat model of prenatal Cannabis smoke exposure. Sci Rep 2023; 13:21070. [PMID: 38030657 PMCID: PMC10687022 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-47861-8] [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: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Cannabis sativa has gained popularity as a "natural substance", leading many to falsely assume that it is not harmful. This assumption has been documented amongst pregnant mothers, many of whom consider Cannabis use during pregnancy as benign. The purpose of this study was to validate a Cannabis smoke exposure model in pregnant rats by determining the plasma levels of cannabinoids and associated metabolites in the dams after exposure to either Cannabis smoke or injected cannabinoids. Maternal and fetal cytokine and chemokine profiles were also assessed after exposure. Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were treated daily from gestational day 6-20 with either room air, i.p. vehicle, inhaled high-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) (18% THC, 0.1% cannabidiol [CBD]) smoke, inhaled high-CBD (0.7% THC, 13% CBD) smoke, 3 mg/kg i.p. THC, or 10 mg/kg i.p. CBD. Our data reveal that THC and CBD, but not their metabolites, accumulate in maternal plasma after repeated exposures. Injection of THC or CBD was associated with fewer offspring and increased uterine reabsorption events. For cytokines and chemokines, injection of THC or CBD up-regulated several pro-inflammatory cytokines compared to control or high-THC smoke or high-CBD smoke in placental and fetal brain tissue, whereas smoke exposure was generally associated with reduced cytokine and chemokine concentrations in placental and fetal brain tissue compared to controls. These results support existing, but limited, knowledge on how different routes of administration contribute to inconsistent manifestations of cannabinoid-mediated effects on pregnancy. Smoked Cannabis is still the most common means of human consumption, and more preclinical investigation is needed to determine the effects of smoke inhalation on developmental and behavioural trajectories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tallan Black
- College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan, 3B36, Health Sciences Building, 107 Wiggins Road, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5E5, Canada
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Health Sciences Building, 107 Wiggins Rd, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5E5, Canada
| | - Sarah L Baccetto
- College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan, 3B36, Health Sciences Building, 107 Wiggins Road, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5E5, Canada
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Health Sciences Building, 107 Wiggins Rd, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5E5, Canada
| | - Ilne L Barnard
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Health Sciences Building, 107 Wiggins Rd, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5E5, Canada
| | - Emma Finch
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Health Sciences Building, 107 Wiggins Rd, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5E5, Canada
| | - Dan L McElroy
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Health Sciences Building, 107 Wiggins Rd, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5E5, Canada
| | - Faith V L Austin-Scott
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Health Sciences Building, 107 Wiggins Rd, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5E5, Canada
| | - Quentin Greba
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Health Sciences Building, 107 Wiggins Rd, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5E5, Canada
| | - Deborah Michel
- College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan, 3B36, Health Sciences Building, 107 Wiggins Road, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5E5, Canada
| | - Ayat Zagzoog
- College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan, 3B36, Health Sciences Building, 107 Wiggins Road, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5E5, Canada
| | - John G Howland
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Health Sciences Building, 107 Wiggins Rd, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5E5, Canada.
| | - Robert B Laprairie
- College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan, 3B36, Health Sciences Building, 107 Wiggins Road, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5E5, Canada.
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.
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Rouzer SK, Gutierrez J, Larin KV, Miranda RC. Alcohol & cannabinoid co-use: Implications for impaired fetal brain development following gestational exposure. Exp Neurol 2023; 361:114318. [PMID: 36627039 PMCID: PMC9892278 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2023.114318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 12/31/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Alcohol and marijuana are two of the most consumed psychoactive substances by pregnant people, and independently, both substances have been associated with lifelong impacts on fetal neurodevelopment. Importantly, individuals of child-bearing age are increasingly engaging in simultaneous alcohol and cannabinoid (SAC) use, which amplifies each drug's pharmacodynamic effects and increases craving for both substances. However, to date, investigations of prenatal polysubstance use are notably limited in both human and non-human populations. In this review paper, we will address what is currently known about combined exposure to these substances, both directly and prenatally, and identify shared prenatal targets from single-exposure paradigms that may highlight susceptible neurobiological mechanisms for future investigation and therapeutic intervention. Finally, we conclude this manuscript by discussing factors that we feel are essential in the consideration and experimental design of future preclinical SAC studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siara Kate Rouzer
- Department of Neuroscience & Experimental Therapeutics, Texas A&M School of Medicine, Bryan, TX 77807, United States.
| | - Jessica Gutierrez
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, United States
| | - Kirill V Larin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, United States
| | - Rajesh C Miranda
- Department of Neuroscience & Experimental Therapeutics, Texas A&M School of Medicine, Bryan, TX 77807, United States
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Iezzi D, Caceres-Rodriguez A, Chavis P, Manzoni OJJ. 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: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [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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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Iezzi
- 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
| | - Alba Caceres-Rodriguez
- 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
| | - Pascale Chavis
- 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.
| | - Olivier J 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.
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Niknam Y, Iyer P, Campbell MA, Moran F, Sandy MS, Zeise L. Animal evidence considered in determination of cannabis smoke and Δ 9 -tetrahydrocannabinol as causing reproductive toxicity (developmental endpoint): Part III. Proposed neurodevelopmental mechanisms of action. Birth Defects Res 2022; 114:1169-1185. [PMID: 36125082 DOI: 10.1002/bdr2.2088] [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: 06/01/2022] [Revised: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
This review summarizes the most common potential pathways of neurodevelopmental toxicity due to perinatal exposure to Δ9 -tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9 -THC) that lead to behavioral and other adverse outcomes (AOs). This is Part III in a set of reviews highlighting the animal-derived data considered by California's Developmental and Reproductive Toxicant Identification Committee (DARTIC) in 2019. The Hazard Identification Document (HID) provided to the DARTIC included a summary of human, whole animal, and mechanistic data on the neurodevelopmental toxicity of cannabis smoke and Δ9 -THC. The literature search for mechanistic data has been updated through 2020. We focus on mechanistic pathways relating to behavioral and other neurodevelopmental outcomes of perinatal exposure to Δ9 -THC. The endocannabinoid system (EC system) plays a crucial role in many processes involved in neurodevelopment and exposure to Δ9 -THC can alter these processes. Whole animal studies report changes in cognitive ability, behavior, and motor function after prenatal exposure to Δ9 -THC. Findings from mechanistic studies add to this evidence and further provide information regarding the pathways leading to these outcomes. Neuromechanistic studies can bridge the gaps between molecular initiating events and apical neurodevelopmental endpoints caused by a chemical. They offer insight into potential alterations in the same pathways by other chemicals that can also result in AOs. Studies of cannabinoid receptor agonist-induced molecular alterations and provide deep biological plausibility at the mechanistic level for the cognitive, behavioral, and motor impairments observed in animal studies after perinatal exposure to Δ9 -THC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yassaman Niknam
- Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA)/Reproductive and Cancer Hazard Assessment Branch (RCHAB), California Environmental Protection Agency, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Poorni Iyer
- Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA)/Reproductive and Cancer Hazard Assessment Branch (RCHAB), California Environmental Protection Agency, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Marlissa A Campbell
- Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA)/Reproductive and Cancer Hazard Assessment Branch (RCHAB), California Environmental Protection Agency, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Francisco Moran
- Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA)/Reproductive and Cancer Hazard Assessment Branch (RCHAB), California Environmental Protection Agency, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Martha S Sandy
- Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA)/Reproductive and Cancer Hazard Assessment Branch (RCHAB), California Environmental Protection Agency, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Lauren Zeise
- Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA)/Reproductive and Cancer Hazard Assessment Branch (RCHAB), California Environmental Protection Agency, Sacramento, California, USA
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Ramírez S, Miguez G, Quezada-Scholz VE, Pardo L, Alfaro F, Varas FI, Laborda MA. Behavioral effects on the offspring of rodent mothers exposed to Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC): A meta-analysis. Front Psychol 2022; 13:934600. [PMID: 36092118 PMCID: PMC9462465 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.934600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Pre and perinatal administration of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in rodents and their offspring has many effects that have been studied using different methods that have not been integrated using quantitative methods. The effect of THC administration on behavior can be better understood by meta-analytic techniques. We examined whether there is an overall effect on the behavior of the offspring when THC is administered to mothers. Eligibility criteria included experiments using an experimental design with a control group without THC, in which THC is administered to mothers during pregnancy and lactation in rodents, and in which at least one type of behavioral (locomotor, emotional or cognitive) measurement in the offspring was implemented. Cohen’s d was obtained for each study, then each individual study was weighted, and moderator analysis was performed. Analysis was performed using fixed and random effect models, and the heterogeneity was assessed by calculating Qb, I2 and the prediction interval. Furthermore, 3 sub-meta-analyses were carried out according to the type of behavior. The general analysis determined a low weighted effect size of THC on the behavior of the offspring, moderated by type of rat strain. The sub-meta-analyses showed a medium effect for cognitive effects of THC in the offspring, and a low effect on locomotor activity and emotional behavior. In addition, publication bias was not detected. More research is needed to contribute to the understanding of the effect of THC exposure on offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simón Ramírez
- Department of Psychology, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Gonzalo Miguez
- Department of Psychology, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | | | - Luis Pardo
- Department of Psychology, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Felipe Alfaro
- Department of Social Sciences and Humanities, Universidad de Aysén, Coyhaique, Chile
| | - Felipe I. Varas
- Department of Psychology, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Mario A. Laborda
- Department of Psychology, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- *Correspondence: Mario A. Laborda,
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Crume TL, Powers S, Dufford AJ, Kim P. Cannabis and Pregnancy: Factors Associated with Cannabis Use Among Pregnant Women and the Consequences for Offspring Neurodevelopment and Early Postpartum Parenting Behavior. CURRENT ADDICTION REPORTS 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s40429-022-00419-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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10
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Cioffredi LA, Anderson H, Loso H, East J, Nguyen P, Garavan H, Potter A. Prenatal cannabis exposure predicts attention problems, without changes on fMRI in adolescents. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2022; 91:107089. [PMID: 35314358 PMCID: PMC9136933 DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2022.107089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2021] [Revised: 03/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We hypothesized that prenatal cannabis exposure (PCE) would be associated with increased attention problems and altered neurocognition in young adolescents. METHODS Data were obtained from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD study®), a cohort of approximately 12,000 children. Presence or absence of PCE after knowledge of pregnancy was measured by caregiver report. All participants with PCE (N = 224) were included and compared to two control groups; those matched on tobacco and alcohol exposure and those without prenatal tobacco or alcohol exposures. Outcomes were measured with the ABCD baseline assessment when participants were 9-10 years old and included attention, internalizing, externalizing and total problems scales on the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). Teacher reports were used when available. Mixed effects modeling assessed the association between PCE and outcomes controlling for parental psychopathology, prematurity and socioeconomic status. For participants with available data, patterns of brain activity during three fMRI tasks (the Stop Signal Task measuring response inhibition, the Monetary Incentive Delay (MID) task measuring reward processing and the EN-Back task measuring working memory) were analyzed using Permutation Analyses of the Linear Model. RESULTS Compared to both control groups, participants with PCE had significantly higher attention problems, externalizing, and total problem scores. PCE did not impact cognitive performance or patterns of brain activation during fMRI tasks. CONCLUSIONS There are long-term associations between PCE and early adolescent attention and behavioral problems. These are not reflected in cognitive performance or task fMRI measures, a finding that is consistent with reports that fewer than half of children with ADHD have any specific cognitive deficit (Nigg et al., 2005; Willcutt et al., 2005). The young age of the sample may also relate to this finding and future investigation of neurodevelopmental trajectories of youth with PCE is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leigh-Anne Cioffredi
- Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont, Department of Pediatrics, USA.
| | - Hillary Anderson
- Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont, Department of Pediatrics, USA
| | - Hannah Loso
- Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont, Department of Psychiatry, USA
| | - James East
- Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont, Department of Radiology, USA
| | - Philip Nguyen
- Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont, Department of Psychiatry, USA
| | - Hugh Garavan
- Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont, Department of Psychiatry, USA
| | - Alexandra Potter
- Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont, Department of Psychiatry, USA
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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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Stark T, Iannotti FA, Di Martino S, Di Bartolomeo M, Ruda-Kucerova J, Piscitelli F, Wotjak CT, D’Addario C, Drago F, Di Marzo V, Micale V. Early Blockade of CB1 Receptors Ameliorates Schizophrenia-like Alterations in the Neurodevelopmental MAM Model of Schizophrenia. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12010108. [PMID: 35053256 PMCID: PMC8773886 DOI: 10.3390/biom12010108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 12/19/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In agreement with the neurodevelopmental hypothesis of schizophrenia, prenatal exposure of Sprague-Dawley rats to the antimitotic agent methylazoxymethanol acetate (MAM) at gestational day 17 produces long-lasting behavioral alterations such as social withdrawal and cognitive impairment in adulthood, mimicking a schizophrenia-like phenotype. These abnormalities were preceded at neonatal age both by the delayed appearance of neonatal reflexes, an index of impaired brain maturation, and by higher 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) brain levels. Schizophrenia-like deficits were reversed by early treatment [from postnatal day (PND) 2 to PND 8] with the CB1 antagonist/inverse agonist AM251 (0.5 mg/kg/day). By contrast, early CB1 blockade affected the behavioral performance of control rats which was paralleled by enhanced 2-AG content in the prefrontal cortex (PFC). These results suggest that prenatal MAM insult leads to premorbid anomalies at neonatal age via altered tone of the endocannabinoid system, which may be considered as an early marker preceding the development of schizophrenia-like alterations in adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tibor Stark
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, 62500 Brno, Czech Republic; (T.S.); (J.R.-K.)
- Scientific Core Unit Neuroimaging, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, 80804 Munich, Germany
| | - Fabio Arturo Iannotti
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy; (F.A.I.); (F.P.); (V.D.M.)
| | - Serena Di Martino
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy; (S.D.M.); (F.D.)
| | - Martina Di Bartolomeo
- Faculty of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (M.D.B.); (C.D.)
| | - Jana Ruda-Kucerova
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, 62500 Brno, Czech Republic; (T.S.); (J.R.-K.)
| | - Fabiana Piscitelli
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy; (F.A.I.); (F.P.); (V.D.M.)
| | - Carsten T. Wotjak
- Central Nervous System Diseases Research (CNSDR), Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co KG, 88397 Biberach an der Riss, Germany;
| | - Claudio D’Addario
- Faculty of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (M.D.B.); (C.D.)
| | - Filippo Drago
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy; (S.D.M.); (F.D.)
| | - Vincenzo Di Marzo
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy; (F.A.I.); (F.P.); (V.D.M.)
- Canada Excellence Research Chair on the Microbiome-Endocannabinoidome Axis in Metabolic Health, Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Centre de Recherche de l’Institut de Cardiologie et Pneumologie de l’Université et Institut sur la Nutrition et les Aliments Fonctionnels, Centre NUTRISS, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC G1V 4G5, Canada
| | - Vincenzo Micale
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy; (S.D.M.); (F.D.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-095-4781199
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Beggiato S, Ieraci A, Zuccarini M, Di Iorio P, Schwarcz R, Ferraro L. Alterations in rat prefrontal cortex kynurenic acid levels are involved in the enduring cognitive dysfunctions induced by tetrahydrocannabinol exposure during the adolescence. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:996406. [PMID: 36483135 PMCID: PMC9722723 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.996406] [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: 07/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Cannabis abuse during adolescence is a risk factor for cognitive impairments in psychiatric disorders later in life. To date, the possible causal relationship between cannabinoids, kynurenic acid (KYNA; i.e., a neuroactive metabolite of tryptophan degradation) and cognition has not been investigated in adolescence. Early exposure to delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC; i.e., the main psychotropic component of cannabis) causes enduring cognitive deficits, which critically involve impaired glutamatergic function in the prefrontal cortex (PFC). In addition, prenatal cannabis exposure results in enduring increases in PFC KYNA levels. Based on these findings, the effects of chronic THC exposure in rats, during another critical period of neurodevelopment particularly sensitive to perturbation by exogenous stimuli, such as adolescence, have been investigated. METHODS Male Wistar rats were chronically treated with vehicle or ascending intraperitoneal (i.p.) doses of THC starting on postnatal day (PND) 35 until PND 45. In adulthood (PND 75), cognitive assessment (Y-maze) and extracellular KYNA/glutamate levels were measured in the PFC by in vivo microdialysis, before and after a challenge with KYN (5 mg/kg i.p., the biological precursor of KYNA). By using the selective, brain-penetrable KAT II inhibitor PF-04859989, we then examined whether blockade of KYNA neosynthesis prevents the cognitive impairment. RESULTS Compared to vehicle-treated controls, extracellular basal KYNA levels were higher in the PFC of adult rats chronically exposed to THC in adolescence (p < 0.01). No changes were observed in extracellular glutamate levels. Following a challenge with KYN, extracellular KYNA levels similarly increased in both groups (i.e., vehicle- and THC-treated; p < 0.001 and p < 0.01, respectively). Chronic adolescent THC exposure negatively affected short-term memory (reduced spontaneous alternation), in adult animals (p < 0.001), while PF-04859989 (30 mg/kg i.p.) restored the cognitive impairment (p < 0.05). DISCUSSION We propose that the observed alterations in PFC KYNA signaling might be involved in the cognitive dysfunction induced by the exposure to THC during the adolescence. In the translational realm, these experiments raise the prospect of prevention of KYNA neosynthesis as a possible novel approach to counteract some of the detrimental long-term effects of adolescence cannabis use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Beggiato
- Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy.,Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnologies, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Alessandro Ieraci
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.,Department of Theoretical and Applied Science, eCampus University, Novedrate, Italy
| | - Mariachiara Zuccarini
- Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Patrizia Di Iorio
- Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Robert Schwarcz
- Department of Psychiatry, Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Luca Ferraro
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnologies, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.,Laboratory for the Technology of Advanced Therapies (LTTA Centre), University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
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14
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Dufford AJ, Spann M, Scheinost D. How prenatal exposures shape the infant brain: Insights from infant neuroimaging studies. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 131:47-58. [PMID: 34536461 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.09.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Revised: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/12/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Brain development during the prenatal period is rapid and unparalleled by any other time during development. Biological systems undergoing rapid development are at higher risk for disorganizing influences. Therefore, certain prenatal exposures impact brain development, increasing risk for negative neurodevelopmental outcome. While prenatal exposures have been associated with cognitive and behavioral outcomes later in life, the underlying macroscopic brain pathways remain unclear. Here, we review magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies investigating the association between prenatal exposures and infant brain development focusing on prenatal exposures via maternal physical health factors, maternal mental health factors, and maternal drug and medication use. Further, we discuss the need for studies to consider multiple prenatal exposures in parallel and suggest future directions for this body of research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marisa Spann
- Columbia University Irving Medical Center, 622 West 168th Street, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Dustin Scheinost
- Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale School of Medicine, USA; Department of Statistics and Data Science, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA; Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
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15
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Ellingson JM, Hinckley JD, Ross JM, Schacht JP, Bidwell LC, Bryan AD, Hopfer CJ, Riggs P, Hutchison KE. The Neurocognitive Effects of Cannabis Across the Lifespan. Curr Behav Neurosci Rep 2021; 8:124-133. [DOI: 10.1007/s40473-021-00244-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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16
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Bukke VN, Archana M, Villani R, Serviddio G, Cassano T. Pharmacological and Toxicological Effects of Phytocannabinoids and Recreational Synthetic Cannabinoids: Increasing Risk of Public Health. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:ph14100965. [PMID: 34681189 PMCID: PMC8541640 DOI: 10.3390/ph14100965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2021] [Revised: 09/19/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Synthetic Cannabinoids (CBs) are a novel class of psychoactive substances that have rapidly evolved around the world with the addition of diverse structural modifications to existing molecules which produce new structural analogues that can be associated with serious adverse health effects. Synthetic CBs represent the largest class of drugs detected by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) with a total of 207 substances identified from 2008 to October 2020, and 9 compounds being reported for the first time. Synthetic CBs are sprayed on natural harmless herbs with an aim to mimic the euphoric effect of Cannabis. They are sold under different brand names including Black mamba, spice, K2, Bombay Blue, etc. As these synthetic CBs act as full agonists at the CB receptors, they are much more potent than natural Cannabis and have been increasingly associated with acute to chronic intoxications and death. Due to their potential toxicity and abuse, the US government has listed some synthetic CBs under schedule 1 classification. The present review aims to provide a focused overview of the literature concerning the development of synthetic CBs, their abuse, and potential toxicological effects including renal toxicity, respiratory depression, hyperemesis syndrome, cardiovascular effects, and a range of effects on brain function.
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17
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Bara A, Ferland JMN, Rompala G, Szutorisz H, Hurd YL. Cannabis and synaptic reprogramming of the developing brain. Nat Rev Neurosci 2021; 22:423-438. [PMID: 34021274 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-021-00465-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Recent years have been transformational in regard to the perception of the health risks and benefits of cannabis with increased acceptance of use. This has unintended neurodevelopmental implications given the increased use of cannabis and the potent levels of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol today being consumed by pregnant women, young mothers and teens. In this Review, we provide an overview of the neurobiological effects of cannabinoid exposure during prenatal/perinatal and adolescent periods, in which the endogenous cannabinoid system plays a fundamental role in neurodevelopmental processes. We highlight impaired synaptic plasticity as characteristic of developmental exposure and the important contribution of epigenetic reprogramming that maintains the long-term impact into adulthood and across generations. Such epigenetic influence by its very nature being highly responsive to the environment also provides the potential to diminish neural perturbations associated with developmental cannabis exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anissa Bara
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Mount Sinai, NY, USA.,Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Mount Sinai, NY, USA.,Addiction Institute of Mount Sinai, Mount Sinai, NY, USA.,Friedman Brain Institute, Mount Sinai, NY, USA
| | - Jacqueline-Marie N Ferland
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Mount Sinai, NY, USA.,Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Mount Sinai, NY, USA.,Addiction Institute of Mount Sinai, Mount Sinai, NY, USA.,Friedman Brain Institute, Mount Sinai, NY, USA
| | - Gregory Rompala
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Mount Sinai, NY, USA.,Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Mount Sinai, NY, USA.,Addiction Institute of Mount Sinai, Mount Sinai, NY, USA.,Friedman Brain Institute, Mount Sinai, NY, USA
| | - Henrietta Szutorisz
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Mount Sinai, NY, USA.,Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Mount Sinai, NY, USA.,Addiction Institute of Mount Sinai, Mount Sinai, NY, USA.,Friedman Brain Institute, Mount Sinai, NY, USA
| | - Yasmin L Hurd
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Mount Sinai, NY, USA. .,Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Mount Sinai, NY, USA. .,Addiction Institute of Mount Sinai, Mount Sinai, NY, USA. .,Friedman Brain Institute, Mount Sinai, NY, USA.
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18
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Manduca A, Carbone E, Schiavi S, Cacchione C, Buzzelli V, Campolongo P, Trezza V. The neurochemistry of social reward during development: What have we learned from rodent models? J Neurochem 2021; 157:1408-1435. [PMID: 33569830 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Revised: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 02/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Social rewards are fundamental to survival and overall health. Several studies suggest that adequate social stimuli during early life are critical for developing appropriate socioemotional and cognitive skills, whereas adverse social experiences negatively affect the proper development of brain and behavior, by increasing the susceptibility to develop neuropsychiatric conditions. Therefore, a better understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying social interactions, and their rewarding components in particular, is an important challenge of current neuroscience research. In this context, preclinical research has a crucial role: Animal models allow to investigate the neurobiological aspects of social reward in order to shed light on possible neurochemical alterations causing aberrant social reward processing in neuropsychiatric diseases, and they allow to test the validity and safety of innovative therapeutic strategies. Here, we discuss preclinical research that has investigated the rewarding properties of two forms of social interaction that occur in different phases of the lifespan of mammals, that is, mother-infant interaction and social interactions with peers, by focusing on the main neurotransmitter systems mediating their rewarding components. Together, the research performed so far helped to elucidate the mechanisms of social reward and its psychobiological components throughout development, thus increasing our understanding of the neurobiological substrates sustaining social functioning in health conditions and social dysfunction in major psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonia Manduca
- Department of Science, Section of Biomedical Sciences and Technologies, Roma Tre University, Rome, Italy.,Neuroendocrinology, Metabolism and Neuropharmacology Unit, IRCSS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - Emilia Carbone
- Department of Science, Section of Biomedical Sciences and Technologies, Roma Tre University, Rome, Italy
| | - Sara Schiavi
- Department of Science, Section of Biomedical Sciences and Technologies, Roma Tre University, Rome, Italy
| | - Claudia Cacchione
- Department of Science, Section of Biomedical Sciences and Technologies, Roma Tre University, Rome, Italy
| | - Valeria Buzzelli
- Department of Science, Section of Biomedical Sciences and Technologies, Roma Tre University, Rome, Italy.,Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Patrizia Campolongo
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.,Neurobiology of Behavior Laboratory, IRCSS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - Viviana Trezza
- Department of Science, Section of Biomedical Sciences and Technologies, Roma Tre University, Rome, Italy
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19
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Breijyeh Z, Jubeh B, Bufo SA, Karaman R, Scrano L. Cannabis: A Toxin-Producing Plant with Potential Therapeutic Uses. Toxins (Basel) 2021; 13:117. [PMID: 33562446 PMCID: PMC7915118 DOI: 10.3390/toxins13020117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 01/31/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
For thousands of years, Cannabis sativa has been utilized as a medicine and for recreational and spiritual purposes. Phytocannabinoids are a family of compounds that are found in the cannabis plant, which is known for its psychotogenic and euphoric effects; the main psychotropic constituent of cannabis is Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC). The pharmacological effects of cannabinoids are a result of interactions between those compounds and cannabinoid receptors, CB1 and CB2, located in many parts of the human body. Cannabis is used as a therapeutic agent for treating pain and emesis. Some cannabinoids are clinically applied for treating chronic pain, particularly cancer and multiple sclerosis-associated pain, for appetite stimulation and anti-emesis in HIV/AIDS and cancer patients, and for spasticity treatment in multiple sclerosis and epilepsy patients. Medical cannabis varies from recreational cannabis in the chemical content of THC and cannabidiol (CBD), modes of administration, and safety. Despite the therapeutic effects of cannabis, exposure to high concentrations of THC, the main compound that is responsible for most of the intoxicating effects experienced by users, could lead to psychological events and adverse effects that affect almost all body systems, such as neurological (dizziness, drowsiness, seizures, coma, and others), ophthalmological (mydriasis and conjunctival hyperemia), cardiovascular (tachycardia and arterial hypertension), and gastrointestinal (nausea, vomiting, and thirst), mainly associated with recreational use. Cannabis toxicity in children is more concerning and can cause serious adverse effects such as acute neurological symptoms (stupor), lethargy, seizures, and even coma. More countries are legalizing the commercial production and sale of cannabis for medicinal use, and some for recreational use as well. Liberalization of cannabis laws has led to increased incidence of toxicity, hyperemesis syndrome, lung disease cardiovascular disease, reduced fertility, tolerance, and dependence with chronic prolonged use. This review focuses on the potential therapeutic effects of cannabis and cannabinoids, as well as the acute and chronic toxic effects of cannabis use on various body systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeinab Breijyeh
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem Abu Dis P144, Palestine; (Z.B.); (B.J.)
| | - Buthaina Jubeh
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem Abu Dis P144, Palestine; (Z.B.); (B.J.)
| | - Sabino A. Bufo
- Department of Sciences, University of Basilicata, 85100 Potenza, Italy
- Department of Geography, Environmental Management & Energy Studies, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg 2092, South Africa
| | - Rafik Karaman
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem Abu Dis P144, Palestine; (Z.B.); (B.J.)
- Department of Sciences, University of Basilicata, 85100 Potenza, Italy
| | - Laura Scrano
- Department of European Cultures (DICEM), University of Basilicata, 75100 Matera, Italy;
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20
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Jorratt P, Hoschl C, Ovsepian SV. Endogenous antagonists of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor in schizophrenia. Alzheimers Dement 2020; 17:888-905. [PMID: 33336545 DOI: 10.1002/alz.12244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2020] [Accepted: 10/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a chronic neuropsychiatric brain disorder that has devastating personal impact and rising healthcare costs. Dysregulation of glutamatergic neurotransmission has been implicated in the pathobiology of the disease, attributed largely to the hypofunction of the N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor. Currently, there is a major gap in mechanistic analysis as to how endogenous modulators of the NMDA receptors contribute to the onset and progression of the disease. We present a systematic review of the neurobiology and the role of endogenous NMDA receptor antagonists in animal models of schizophrenia, and in patients. We discuss their neurochemical origin, release from neurons and glia with action mechanisms, and functional effects, which might contribute toward the impairment of neuronal processes underlying this complex pathological state. We consider clinical evidence suggesting dysregulations of endogenous NMDA receptor in schizophrenia, and highlight the pressing need in future studies and emerging directions, to restore the NMDA receptor functions for therapeutic benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pascal Jorratt
- Department of Experimental Neurobiology, National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czech Republic.,Department of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague 10, Czech Republic
| | - Cyril Hoschl
- Department of Experimental Neurobiology, National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czech Republic.,Department of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague 10, Czech Republic
| | - Saak V Ovsepian
- Department of Experimental Neurobiology, National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czech Republic.,Department of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague 10, Czech Republic
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21
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Vaseghi S, Nasehi M, Zarrindast MR. How do stupendous cannabinoids modulate memory processing via affecting neurotransmitter systems? Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 120:173-221. [PMID: 33171142 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.10.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Revised: 10/17/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
In the present study, we wanted to review the role of cannabinoids in learning and memory in animal models, with respect to their interaction effects with six principal neurotransmitters involved in learning and memory including dopamine, glutamate, GABA (γ-aminobutyric acid), serotonin, acetylcholine, and noradrenaline. Cannabinoids induce a wide-range of unpredictable effects on cognitive functions, while their mechanisms are not fully understood. Cannabinoids in different brain regions and in interaction with different neurotransmitters, show diverse responses. Previous findings have shown that cannabinoids agonists and antagonists induce various unpredictable effects such as similar effect, paradoxical effect, or dualistic effect. It should not be forgotten that brain neurotransmitter systems can also play unpredictable roles in mediating cognitive functions. Thus, we aimed to review and discuss the effect of cannabinoids in interaction with neurotransmitters on learning and memory. In addition, we mentioned to the type of interactions between cannabinoids and neurotransmitter systems. We suggested that investigating the type of interactions is a critical neuropharmacological issue that should be considered in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salar Vaseghi
- Cognitive and Neuroscience Research Center (CNRC), Amir-Almomenin Hospital, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran; Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute for Cognitive Science Studies (ICSS), Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Nasehi
- Cognitive and Neuroscience Research Center (CNRC), Amir-Almomenin Hospital, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Mohammad-Reza Zarrindast
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute for Cognitive Science Studies (ICSS), Tehran, Iran; Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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22
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Haspula D, Clark MA. Cannabinoid Receptors: An Update on Cell Signaling, Pathophysiological Roles and Therapeutic Opportunities in Neurological, Cardiovascular, and Inflammatory Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E7693. [PMID: 33080916 PMCID: PMC7590033 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21207693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2020] [Revised: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The identification of the human cannabinoid receptors and their roles in health and disease, has been one of the most significant biochemical and pharmacological advancements to have occurred in the past few decades. In spite of the major strides made in furthering endocannabinoid research, therapeutic exploitation of the endocannabinoid system has often been a challenging task. An impaired endocannabinoid tone often manifests as changes in expression and/or functions of type 1 and/or type 2 cannabinoid receptors. It becomes important to understand how alterations in cannabinoid receptor cellular signaling can lead to disruptions in major physiological and biological functions, as they are often associated with the pathogenesis of several neurological, cardiovascular, metabolic, and inflammatory diseases. This review focusses mostly on the pathophysiological roles of type 1 and type 2 cannabinoid receptors, and it attempts to integrate both cellular and physiological functions of the cannabinoid receptors. Apart from an updated review of pre-clinical and clinical studies, the adequacy/inadequacy of cannabinoid-based therapeutics in various pathological conditions is also highlighted. Finally, alternative strategies to modulate endocannabinoid tone, and future directions are also emphasized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dhanush Haspula
- Molecular Signaling Section, Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA;
| | - Michelle A. Clark
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314, USA
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23
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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: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [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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24
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Manduca A, Servadio M, Melancia F, Schiavi S, Manzoni OJ, Trezza V. Sex-specific behavioural deficits induced at early life by prenatal exposure to the cannabinoid receptor agonist WIN55, 212-2 depend on mGlu5 receptor signalling. Br J Pharmacol 2020; 177:449-463. [PMID: 31658362 PMCID: PMC6989958 DOI: 10.1111/bph.14879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2019] [Revised: 07/04/2019] [Accepted: 09/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Marijuana is the illicit drug most commonly used among pregnant and breastfeeding women. Different studies reported long-term adverse effects induced by in utero exposure to the main component of marijuana, Δ9 -tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), both in rodents and in humans. However, little is known about any potential sex-dependent effects of marijuana consumption during pregnancy on newborns at early developmental ages. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH We studied the effects of prenatal exposure to the cannabinoid receptor agonist WIN55,212-2 (WIN; 0.5 mg·kg-1 from GD5 to GD20) on the emotional reactivity and cognitive performance of male and female rat offspring from infancy through adolescence and tested the role of mGlu5 receptor signalling in the observed effects. KEY RESULTS Prenatally WIN-exposed male infant pups emitted less isolation-induced ultrasonic vocalizations compared with male control pups, when separated from the dam and siblings and showed increased locomotor activity while females were spared. These effects were normalized when male pups were treated with the positive allosteric modulator of mGlu5 receptor CDPPB. When tested at the prepubertal and pubertal periods, WIN-prenatally exposed rats of both sexes did not show any difference in social play behaviour, anxiety and temporal order memory. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS We reveal a previously undisclosed sexual divergence in the consequences of fetal cannabinoids on newborns at early developmental ages, which is dependent on mGlu5 receptor signalling. These results provide new impetus for the urgent need to investigate the functional and behavioural substrates of prenatal cannabinoid exposure in both the male offspring and the female offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonia Manduca
- Department of Science, Section of Biomedical Sciences and TechnologiesUniversity “Roma Tre”RomeItaly
- INSERM, INMEDAix Marseille UniversitéMarseilleFrance
- Cannalab, Cannabinoids Neuroscience Research International Associated Laboratory, INSERMIndiana UniversityBloomingtonIndianaUSA
| | - Michela Servadio
- Department of Science, Section of Biomedical Sciences and TechnologiesUniversity “Roma Tre”RomeItaly
| | - Francesca Melancia
- Department of Science, Section of Biomedical Sciences and TechnologiesUniversity “Roma Tre”RomeItaly
| | - Sara Schiavi
- Department of Science, Section of Biomedical Sciences and TechnologiesUniversity “Roma Tre”RomeItaly
| | - Olivier J. Manzoni
- INSERM, INMEDAix Marseille UniversitéMarseilleFrance
- Cannalab, Cannabinoids Neuroscience Research International Associated Laboratory, INSERMIndiana UniversityBloomingtonIndianaUSA
| | - Viviana Trezza
- Department of Science, Section of Biomedical Sciences and TechnologiesUniversity “Roma Tre”RomeItaly
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25
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Navarrete F, García-Gutiérrez MS, Gasparyan A, Austrich-Olivares A, Femenía T, Manzanares J. Cannabis Use in Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women: Behavioral and Neurobiological Consequences. Front Psychiatry 2020; 11:586447. [PMID: 33240134 PMCID: PMC7667667 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.586447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Nowadays, cannabis is the most consumed illicit drug. The global prevalence of the use of cannabis in 2017 was estimated in 188 million of people, 3.8% of worldwide population. Importantly, the legalization of cannabis in different countries, together with the increase in the apparent safety perception, may result in a great variety of health problems. Indeed, an important concern is the increase in cannabis use among pregnant and breastfeeding women, especially since the content of delta9-tetrahidrocannabinol (THC) is currently around 2-fold higher than it was 15-20 years ago. The purpose of this study was to review cannabis use during pregnancy and breastfeeding including epidemiological aspects, therapeutic or preventive strategies, and experimental considerations and results from animal models of perinatal cannabis exposure to analyze the underlying neurobiological mechanisms and to identify new therapeutic approaches. A recent report revealed that among pregnant women aged 15-44, last month cannabis use prevalence was over 4.9%, raising to 8.5% in the 18-25-year-old age range. Pre- and post-natal exposure to cannabis may be associated with critical alterations in the newborn infants that are prolonged throughout childhood and adolescence. Briefly, several reports revealed that perinatal cannabis exposure was associated with low birth weight, reduction in the head circumference, cognitive deficits (attention, learning, and memory), disturbances in emotional response leading to aggressiveness, high impulsivity, or affective disorders, and higher risk to develop a substance use disorder. Furthermore, important neurobiological alterations in different neuromodulatory and neurotransmission systems have been associated with cannabis consumption during pregnancy and lactation. In spite of the evidences pointing out the negative behavioral and neurobiological consequences of cannabis use in pregnant and breastfeeding women, there are still limitations to identify biomarkers that could help to establish preventive or therapeutic approaches. It is difficult to define the direct association specifically with cannabis, avoiding other confusing factors, co-occurrence of other drugs consumption (mainly nicotine and alcohol), lifestyle, or socioeconomic factors. Therefore, it is necessary to progress in the characterization of short- and long-term cannabis exposure-related disturbances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Navarrete
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad Miguel Hernández-CSIC, Alicante, Spain.,Red Temática de Investigación Cooperativa en Salud (RETICS), Red de Trastornos Adictivos (RTA), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, MICINN and FEDER, Madrid, Spain
| | - María Salud García-Gutiérrez
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad Miguel Hernández-CSIC, Alicante, Spain.,Red Temática de Investigación Cooperativa en Salud (RETICS), Red de Trastornos Adictivos (RTA), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, MICINN and FEDER, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ani Gasparyan
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad Miguel Hernández-CSIC, Alicante, Spain.,Red Temática de Investigación Cooperativa en Salud (RETICS), Red de Trastornos Adictivos (RTA), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, MICINN and FEDER, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Teresa Femenía
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad Miguel Hernández-CSIC, Alicante, Spain.,Red Temática de Investigación Cooperativa en Salud (RETICS), Red de Trastornos Adictivos (RTA), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, MICINN and FEDER, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jorge Manzanares
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad Miguel Hernández-CSIC, Alicante, Spain.,Red Temática de Investigación Cooperativa en Salud (RETICS), Red de Trastornos Adictivos (RTA), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, MICINN and FEDER, Madrid, Spain
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26
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Nashed MG, Hardy DB, Laviolette SR. Prenatal Cannabinoid Exposure: Emerging Evidence of Physiological and Neuropsychiatric Abnormalities. Front Psychiatry 2020; 11:624275. [PMID: 33519564 PMCID: PMC7841012 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.624275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Clinical reports of cannabis use prevalence during pregnancy vary widely from 3% to upwards of 35% in North America; this disparity likely owing to underestimates from self-reporting in many cases. The rise in cannabis use is mirrored by increasing global legalization and the overall perceptions of safety, even during pregnancy. These trends are further compounded by a lack of evidence-based policy and guidelines for prenatal cannabis use, which has led to inconsistent messaging by healthcare providers and medically licensed cannabis dispensaries regarding prenatal cannabis use for treatment of symptoms, such as nausea. Additionally, the use of cannabis to self-medicate depression and anxiety during pregnancy is a growing medical concern. This review aims to summarize recent findings of clinical and preclinical data on neonatal outcomes, as well as long-term physiological and neurodevelopmental outcomes of prenatal cannabis exposure. Although many of the outcomes under investigation have produced mixed results, we consider these data in light of the unique challenges facing cannabis research. In particular, the limited longitudinal clinical studies available have not previously accounted for the exponential increase in (-)-Δ9- tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC; the psychoactive compound in cannabis) concentrations found in cannabis over the past two decades. Polydrug use and the long-term effects of individual cannabis constituents [Δ9-THC vs. cannabidiol (CBD)] are also understudied, along with sex-dependent outcomes. Despite these limitations, prenatal cannabis exposure has been linked to low birth weight, and emerging evidence suggests that prenatal exposure to Δ9-THC, which crosses the placenta and impacts placental development, may have wide-ranging physiological and neurodevelopmental consequences. The long-term effects of these changes require more rigorous investigation, though early reports suggest Δ9-THC increases the risk of cognitive impairment and neuropsychiatric disease, including psychosis, depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders. In light of the current trends in the perception and use of cannabis during pregnancy, we emphasize the social and medical imperative for more rigorous investigation of the long-term effects of prenatal cannabis exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mina G Nashed
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Daniel B Hardy
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.,Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Steven R Laviolette
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
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27
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Gestational exposure to the cannabinoid WIN 55,212-2 and its effect on the innate intestinal immune response. Sci Rep 2019; 9:20340. [PMID: 31889093 PMCID: PMC6937228 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-56653-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2019] [Accepted: 12/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The consequences of marijuana consumption during pregnancy and its effects on the function of the immune system have been little studied. Marijuana is one of the most consumed recreational drugs among pregnant women, and it is known that gestational exposure to marijuana can have serious effects on the offspring after birth. In this study, we challenged the immune system of Wistar rats by infecting them with the parasitic nematode Trichinella spiralis. A treatment group of these animals was prenatally exposed to the cannabinoid WIN 55,212-2; a control group was not exposed. At 5 days of infection, the treated animals were less effective in eliminating intestinal parasites; moreover, this effect was correlated with a deficiency in mucus production, lower recruitment of eosinophils in the duodenum, and a reduced percentage of Tγδ and NK cells. In conclusion, the gestational administration of the synthetic cannabinoid WIN 55,212-2 induces lasting changes to the function of the immune system against infection with T. spiralis in male Wistar rats, making them more susceptible to infection.
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28
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Hurd YL, Manzoni OJ, Pletnikov MV, Lee FS, Bhattacharyya S, Melis M. Cannabis and the Developing Brain: Insights into Its Long-Lasting Effects. J Neurosci 2019; 39:8250-8258. [PMID: 31619494 PMCID: PMC6794936 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1165-19.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2019] [Revised: 08/10/2019] [Accepted: 08/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The recent shift in sociopolitical debates and growing liberalization of cannabis use across the globe has raised concern regarding its impact on vulnerable populations, such as pregnant women and adolescents. Epidemiological studies have long demonstrated a relationship between developmental cannabis exposure and later mental health symptoms. This relationship is especially strong in people with particular genetic polymorphisms, suggesting that cannabis use interacts with genotype to increase mental health risk. Seminal animal research directly linked prenatal and adolescent exposure to delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, the major psychoactive component of cannabis, with protracted effects on adult neural systems relevant to psychiatric and substance use disorders. In this article, we discuss some recent advances in understanding the long-term molecular, epigenetic, electrophysiological, and behavioral consequences of prenatal, perinatal, and adolescent exposure to cannabis/delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol. Insights are provided from both animal and human studies, including in vivo neuroimaging strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasmin L Hurd
- Department of Psychiatry and Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029,
| | - Olivier J Manzoni
- Aix Marseille University, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Institut de neurobiologie de la méditerranée, 13273 Marseille, France, and Cannalab, Cannabinoids Neuroscience Research International Associated Laboratory, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, 13273 Marseille, France
| | - Mikhail V Pletnikov
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205
| | - Francis S Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, Sackler Institute for Developmental Psychobiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York 10065
| | - Sagnik Bhattacharyya
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, United Kingdom, and
| | - Miriam Melis
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Division of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cagliari, 09042 Cagliari, Italy
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29
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Scheyer AF, Melis M, Trezza V, Manzoni OJJ. Consequences of Perinatal Cannabis Exposure. Trends Neurosci 2019; 42:871-884. [PMID: 31604585 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2019.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2019] [Revised: 07/10/2019] [Accepted: 08/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Cannabis exposure during the perinatal period results in varied and significant consequences in affected offspring. The prevalence of detrimental outcomes of perinatal cannabis exposure is likely to increase in tandem with the broadening of legalization and acceptance of the drug. As such, it is crucial to highlight the immediate and protracted consequences of cannabis exposure on pre- and postnatal development. Here, we identify lasting changes in neurons' learning flexibility (synaptic plasticity) and epigenetic misregulation in animal models of perinatal cannabinoid exposure (using synthetic cannabinoids or active components of the cannabis plant), in addition to significant alterations in social behavior and executive functions. These findings are supported by epidemiological data indicating similar behavioral outcomes throughout life in human offspring exposed to cannabis during pregnancy. Further, we indicate important lingering questions regarding accurate modeling of perinatal cannabis exposure as well as the need for sex- and age-dependent outcome measures in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew F Scheyer
- INMED, INSERM U1249, Marseille, France; Aix-Marseille University, Provence, France; Cannalab, Cannabinoids Neuroscience Research International Associated Laboratory, INSERM-Aix-Marseille University, Provence, France/Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Miriam Melis
- Division of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09042, Monserrato, Italy; National Institute of Neuroscience, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Viviana Trezza
- Department of Science, Section of Biomedical Sciences and Technologies, University 'Roma Tre', Rome, Italy
| | - Olivier J J Manzoni
- INMED, INSERM U1249, Marseille, France; Aix-Marseille University, Provence, France; Cannalab, Cannabinoids Neuroscience Research International Associated Laboratory, INSERM-Aix-Marseille University, Provence, France/Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA.
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30
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Gustafsson SB, Jacobsson SOP. Effects of cannabinoids on the development of chick embryos in ovo. Sci Rep 2019; 9:13486. [PMID: 31530885 PMCID: PMC6748917 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-50004-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2019] [Accepted: 09/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
We have examined the effects of the synthetic cannabinoids HU 210 and HU 211, the plant-derived cannabidiol and the endogenous cannabinoid anandamide on the viability and development of chick embryos. Fertilized White Leghorn chicken eggs were injected with the test compounds or carrier vehicle, via a drilled small hole in the egg, directly into the egg yolk. After nine days of exposure, the embryonal viability, length and wet weight of embryos, and wet weight of brains were measured, and the development stages were assessed according to the Hamburger and Hamilton (HH) scale. The potent synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonist HU 210 and the non-psychotropic cannabidiol were embryotoxic at the highest concentrations examined (10 µM and 50 µM, respectively), with no viable embryos after the HU 210 injection, and 20% viability after the cannabidiol injections. The effects of HU 210 on the chick embryo were attenuated by α-tocopherol and the cannabinoid receptor antagonist AM251, whereas only α-tocopherol gave a statistically significant protection against the embryotoxic effects of cannabidiol. This study shows that exposure to plant-derived or synthetic cannabinoids during early embryonal development decreases embryonal viability. Extrapolation of data across species is of course difficult, but the data would argue against the use of cannabinoids, be it recreationally or therapeutically, during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia B Gustafsson
- Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Neuroscience, Umeå University, SE-901 87, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Stig O P Jacobsson
- Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Neuroscience, Umeå University, SE-901 87, Umeå, Sweden.
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31
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Pinky PD, Bloemer J, Smith WD, Moore T, Hong H, Suppiramaniam V, Reed MN. Prenatal cannabinoid exposure and altered neurotransmission. Neuropharmacology 2019; 149:181-194. [PMID: 30771373 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2019.02.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2018] [Revised: 01/18/2019] [Accepted: 02/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Marijuana is one of the most commonly used illicit drugs worldwide. In addition, use of synthetic cannabinoids is increasing, especially among adolescents and young adults. Although human studies have shown that the use of marijuana during pregnancy leads to adverse behavioral effects, such as deficiencies in attention and executive function in affected offspring, the rate of marijuana use among pregnant women is steadily increasing. Various aspects of human behavior including emotion, learning, and memory are dependent on complex interactions between multiple neurotransmitter systems that are especially vulnerable to alterations during the developmental period. Thus, exploration of neurotransmitter changes in response to prenatal cannabinoid exposure is crucial to develop an understanding of how homeostatic imbalance and various long-term neurobehavioral deficits manifest following the abuse of marijuana or other synthetic cannabinoids during pregnancy. Current literature confirms that vast alterations to neurotransmitter systems are present following prenatal cannabinoid exposure, and many of these alterations within the brain are region specific, time-dependent, and sexually dimorphic. In this review, we aim to provide a summary of observed changes to various neurotransmitter systems following cannabinoid exposure during pregnancy and to draw possible correlations to reported behavioral alterations in affected offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priyanka D Pinky
- Department of Drug Discovery and Development, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA
| | - Jenna Bloemer
- Department of Drug Discovery and Development, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA
| | - Warren D Smith
- Department of Drug Discovery and Development, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA
| | - Timothy Moore
- Department of Drug Discovery and Development, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA; Center for Neuroscience Initiative, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA
| | - Hao Hong
- Department of Pharmacology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Vishnu Suppiramaniam
- Department of Drug Discovery and Development, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA; Center for Neuroscience Initiative, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA.
| | - Miranda N Reed
- Department of Drug Discovery and Development, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA; Center for Neuroscience Initiative, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA.
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32
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Rodrigues RS, Lourenço DM, Paulo SL, Mateus JM, Ferreira MF, Mouro FM, Moreira JB, Ribeiro FF, Sebastião AM, Xapelli S. Cannabinoid Actions on Neural Stem Cells: Implications for Pathophysiology. Molecules 2019; 24:E1350. [PMID: 30959794 PMCID: PMC6480122 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24071350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2019] [Revised: 04/01/2019] [Accepted: 04/03/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
With the increase of life expectancy, neurodegenerative disorders are becoming not only a health but also a social burden worldwide. However, due to the multitude of pathophysiological disease states, current treatments fail to meet the desired outcomes. Therefore, there is a need for new therapeutic strategies focusing on more integrated, personalized and effective approaches. The prospect of using neural stem cells (NSC) as regenerative therapies is very promising, however several issues still need to be addressed. In particular, the potential actions of pharmacological agents used to modulate NSC activity are highly relevant. With the ongoing discussion of cannabinoid usage for medical purposes and reports drawing attention to the effects of cannabinoids on NSC regulation, there is an enormous, and yet, uncovered potential for cannabinoids as treatment options for several neurological disorders, specifically when combined with stem cell therapy. In this manuscript, we review in detail how cannabinoids act as potent regulators of NSC biology and their potential to modulate several neurogenic features in the context of pathophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui S Rodrigues
- Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Diogo M Lourenço
- Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Sara L Paulo
- Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Joana M Mateus
- Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Miguel F Ferreira
- Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Francisco M Mouro
- Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - João B Moreira
- Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Filipa F Ribeiro
- Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Ana M Sebastião
- Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Sara Xapelli
- Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
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33
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Bukiya AN. Physiology of the Endocannabinoid System During Development. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2019; 1162:13-37. [PMID: 31332732 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-21737-2_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The endocannabinoid (eCB) system comprises endogenously produced cannabinoids (CBs), enzymes of their production and degradation, and CB-sensing receptors and transporters. The eCB system plays a critical role in virtually all stages of animal development. Studies on eCB system components and their physiological role have gained increasing attention with the rising legalization and medical use of marijuana products. The latter represent exogenous interventions that target the eCB system. This chapter summarizes knowledge in the field of CB contribution to gametogenesis, fertilization, embryo implantation, fetal development, birth, and adolescence-equivalent periods of ontogenesis. The material is complemented by the overview of data from our laboratory documenting the functional presence of the eCB system within cerebral arteries of baboons at different stages of development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna N Bukiya
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND With increasing popularity of marijuana, consumers are likely turning to the internet for information regarding medical marijuana. Accuracy of medical marijuana claims is a significant concern because consumers change their medication management based on information from a single website. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy and quality of medical marijuana claims on popular websites. Methods : Commonly used websites containing claims regarding medical marijuana were selected by utilizing three online marketing tools that rank websites based on number of views, number of visitors, and visitor engagement. Once the top ten most popular websites were selected, medical claims regarding marijuana were reviewed for accuracy and quality using evidence-based tools. RESULTS Seventy-six percent of claims made by websites were inaccurate and were based on low-quality evidence. Of the medical marijuana claims reviewed, 10% of websites made appropriate cause and effect conclusions. Furthermore, approximately 3% of the medical marijuana claims were written by a healthcare professional. CONCLUSION The findings show there is misleading and inaccurate information readily available to consumers online.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Morgan L Sperry
- UMKC School of Pharmacy, Drug Information Center, Kansas City, MO, USA
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Ali A, Cui X, Eyles D. Developmental vitamin D deficiency and autism: Putative pathogenic mechanisms. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2018; 175:108-118. [PMID: 28027915 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2016.12.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2016] [Revised: 10/31/2016] [Accepted: 12/23/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Autism is a neurodevelopmental disease that presents in early life. Despite a considerable amount of studies, the neurobiological mechanisms underlying autism remain obscure. Both genetic and environmental factors are involved in the development of autism. Vitamin D deficiency is emerging as a consistently reported risk factor in children. One reason for the prominence now being given to this risk factor is that it would appear to interact with several other epidemiological risk factors for autism. Vitamin D is an active neurosteroid and plays crucial neuroprotective roles in the developing brain. It has important roles in cell proliferation and differentiation, immunomodulation, regulation of neurotransmission and steroidogenesis. Animal studies have suggested that transient prenatal vitamin D deficiency is associated with altered brain development. Here we review the potential neurobiological mechanisms linking prenatal vitamin D deficiency and autism and also discuss what future research targets must now be addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asad Ali
- Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, Qld 4072, Australia
| | - Xiaoying Cui
- Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, Qld 4072, Australia
| | - Darryl Eyles
- Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, Qld 4072, Australia; Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, Wacol, Qld 4076, Australia.
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Barnes TD, Rieger MA, Dougherty JD, Holy TE. Group and Individual Variability in Mouse Pup Isolation Calls Recorded on the Same Day Show Stability. Front Behav Neurosci 2017; 11:243. [PMID: 29326565 PMCID: PMC5736564 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2017.00243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2017] [Accepted: 11/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Mice produce ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) in a variety of social situations, and USVs have been leveraged to study many neurological diseases including verbal dyspraxia, depression, autism and stuttering. Pups produce isolation calls, a common USV, spontaneously when they are isolated from their mother during the first 2 weeks of life. Several genetic manipulations affect (and often reduce) pup isolation calls in mice. To facilitate the use of this assay as a means of testing whether significant functional differences in genotypes exist instead of contextual differences, we test the variability inherent in many commons measures of mouse vocalizations. Here we use biological consistency as a way of determining which are reproducible in mouse pup vocalizations. We present a comprehensive analysis of the normal variability of these vocalizations in groups of mice, individual mice and different strains of mice. To control for maturation effects, we recorded pup isolation calls in the same group of C57BL/6J 5 days old mice twice, with 1 h of rest in between recordings. In almost all cases, the group averages between the first and second recordings were the same. We also found that there were high correlations in some parameters in individual mice across recording while others were not well correlated. These findings could be replicated for the majority of features in a separate group of C57BL/6J mice and a group of 129/SvEvBrd-C57BL/6J mice. The averages of these mouse USV features are highly consistent and represent a robust assay to test the effects of genetic and other interventions in the experimental setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Terra D Barnes
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Michael A Rieger
- Department of Genetics and Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Joseph D Dougherty
- Department of Genetics and Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Timothy E Holy
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
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Yoshizaki K, Koike K, Kimura R, Osumi N. Early postnatal vocalizations predict sociability and spatial memory in C57BL/6J mice: Individual differences in behavioral traits emerge early in development. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0186798. [PMID: 29091920 PMCID: PMC5665508 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0186798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2017] [Accepted: 10/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The understanding of individual diversity and its link to brain functions is a fundamental issue in neurobiology. Studies in mice have mainly focused on the investigation of behavior traits in adulthood, whereas longitudinal analyses are largely uninvestigated. Here we have conducted systematic behavior tests in individual mice (C57BL6/J, male), comparing phenotypes at early postnatal stages and in adulthood. Each animal showed different scores in individual behavior tests. However, we observed an inverse correlation between repetitive behavior in the Morris water maze test and sociability in the 3-chamber social interaction test; an increase in repetitive behaviors was associated with poor sociability. In longitudinal analyses, the emission of ultrasonic vocalization during maternal separation at postnatal day 6 in pups was correlated positively with sociability and negatively with spatial memory. Our results show a possibility that individual differences in communication between pups and their mother in infancy is a predictive indicator for sociability and cognitive performance as an adult.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaichi Yoshizaki
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, United Centers for Advanced Research and Translational Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
- Department of Pathology, Institute for Developmental Research, Aichi Human Service Center, Aichi, Japan
| | - Kohei Koike
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, United Centers for Advanced Research and Translational Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
- Department of Physiology, Center for Integrative Physiology and Molecular Medicine, Saarland University School of Medicine, Homburg, Germany
| | - Ryuichi Kimura
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, United Centers for Advanced Research and Translational Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Noriko Osumi
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, United Centers for Advanced Research and Translational Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
- * E-mail:
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Ratano P, Palmery M, Trezza V, Campolongo P. Cannabinoid Modulation of Memory Consolidation in Rats: Beyond the Role of Cannabinoid Receptor Subtype 1. Front Pharmacol 2017; 8:200. [PMID: 28446875 PMCID: PMC5388693 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2017.00200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2017] [Accepted: 03/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The effects induced by exogenous manipulation of endocannabinoid neurotransmission on emotion and memory are often contradictory. Among the different factors involved, of particular interest is the binding affinity of endocannabinoids, and their analogs, for other receptor families beyond cannabinoid receptors, such as the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), and the transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1 (TRPV1). The aim of this study was to investigate which receptor subtype mediates cannabinoid effects on memory consolidation for emotionally arousing experiences. We tested two cannabinoid compounds with different pharmacological properties in the inhibitory avoidance task, and evaluated whether the observed effects are mediated by cannabinoid, PPARα or TRPV1 receptor activation. We found that the synthetic cannabinoid agonist WIN55,212-2 and the FAAH inhibitor URB597 both enhanced memory consolidation for inhibitory avoidance training. WIN55,212-22 effects on memory consolidation were predominantly mediated by CB1 receptor activation but CB2 receptors were involved as well. The URB597-induced memory enhancement was dependent on the activation not only of CB1 and CB2 receptors but, notwithstanding, PPAR-α and TRPV1 receptors were involved as well. Our findings drive beyond the classical hypothesis centered on the unique role of CB1 receptor activation for cannabinoid effects on memory, and reveal new insights in the neural mechanisms of memory consolidation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrizia Ratano
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of RomeRome, Italy
| | - Maura Palmery
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of RomeRome, Italy
| | - Viviana Trezza
- Department of Science, Section of Biomedical Sciences and Technologies, Roma Tre UniversityRome, Italy
| | - Patrizia Campolongo
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of RomeRome, Italy
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Ramírez-López MT, Vázquez M, Lomazzo E, Hofmann C, Blanco RN, Alén F, Antón M, Decara J, Arco R, Orio L, Suárez J, Lutz B, Gómez de Heras R, Bindila L, Rodríguez de Fonseca F. A moderate diet restriction during pregnancy alters the levels of endocannabinoids and endocannabinoid-related lipids in the hypothalamus, hippocampus and olfactory bulb of rat offspring in a sex-specific manner. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0174307. [PMID: 28346523 PMCID: PMC5367805 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0174307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2016] [Accepted: 03/07/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Undernutrition during pregnancy has been associated to increased vulnerability to develop metabolic and behavior alterations later in life. The endocannabinoid system might play an important role in these processes. Therefore, we investigated the effects of a moderate maternal calorie-restricted diet on the levels of the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoyl glycerol (2-AG), arachidonic acid (AA) and the N-acylethanolamines (NAEs) anandamide (AEA), oleoylethanolamide (OEA) and palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) in the brain of newborn rat offspring. We focused on brain structures involved in metabolism, feeding behavior, as well as emotional and cognitive responses. Female Wistar rats were assigned during the entire pregnancy to either control diet (C) or restriction diet (R), consisting of a 20% calorie-restricted diet. Weight gain and caloric intake of rat dams were monitored and birth outcomes were assessed. 2-AG, AA and NAE levels were measured in hypothalamus, hippocampus and olfactory bulb of the offspring. R dams displayed lower gain weight from the middle pregnancy and consumed less calories during the entire pregnancy. Offspring from R dams were underweight at birth, but litter size was unaffected. In hypothalamus, R male offspring displayed decreased levels of AA and OEA, with no change in the levels of the endocannabinoids 2-AG and AEA. R female exhibited decreased 2-AG and PEA levels. The opposite was found in the hippocampus, where R male displayed increased 2-AG and AA levels, and R female exhibited elevated levels of AEA, AA and PEA. In the olfactory bulb, only R female presented decreased levels of AEA, AA and PEA. Therefore, a moderate diet restriction during the entire pregnancy alters differentially the endocannabinoids and/or endocannabinoid-related lipids in hypothalamus and hippocampus of the underweight offspring, similarly in both sexes, whereas sex-specific alterations occur in the olfactory bulb. Consequently, endocannabinoid and endocannabinoid-related lipid signaling alterations might be involved in the long-term and sexual dimorphism effects commonly observed after undernutrition and low birth weight.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Teresa Ramírez-López
- Departamento de Psicobiología. Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Campus de Somosaguas s/n, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain
| | - Mariam Vázquez
- Departamento de Psicobiología. Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Campus de Somosaguas s/n, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain
- IBIMA, Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Salud Mental, Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, Universidad de Málaga, Málaga, Spain
| | - Ermelinda Lomazzo
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Clementine Hofmann
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Rosario Noemi Blanco
- Departamento de Psicobiología. Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Campus de Somosaguas s/n, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco Alén
- Departamento de Psicobiología. Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Campus de Somosaguas s/n, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain
| | - María Antón
- Departamento de Psicobiología. Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Campus de Somosaguas s/n, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan Decara
- IBIMA, Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Salud Mental, Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, Universidad de Málaga, Málaga, Spain
| | - Rocío Arco
- IBIMA, Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Salud Mental, Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, Universidad de Málaga, Málaga, Spain
| | - Laura Orio
- Departamento de Psicobiología. Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Campus de Somosaguas s/n, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan Suárez
- IBIMA, Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Salud Mental, Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, Universidad de Málaga, Málaga, Spain
- Departamento de Biología Celular, Genética y Fisiología. IBIMA. Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Malaga. Campus de Teatinos s/n, Malaga, Spain
| | - Beat Lutz
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Raquel Gómez de Heras
- Departamento de Psicobiología. Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Campus de Somosaguas s/n, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain
- * E-mail: (FRF); (RGH)
| | - Laura Bindila
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Fernando Rodríguez de Fonseca
- Departamento de Psicobiología. Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Campus de Somosaguas s/n, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain
- IBIMA, Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Salud Mental, Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, Universidad de Málaga, Málaga, Spain
- * E-mail: (FRF); (RGH)
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Ramírez-López MT, Vázquez M, Bindila L, Lomazzo E, Hofmann C, Blanco RN, Alén F, Antón M, Decara J, Arco R, Ouro D, Orio L, Suárez J, Lutz B, Gómez de Heras R, Rodríguez de Fonseca F. Maternal Caloric Restriction Implemented during the Preconceptional and Pregnancy Period Alters Hypothalamic and Hippocampal Endocannabinoid Levels at Birth and Induces Overweight and Increased Adiposity at Adulthood in Male Rat Offspring. Front Behav Neurosci 2016; 10:208. [PMID: 27847471 PMCID: PMC5088205 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2016.00208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2016] [Accepted: 10/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Exposure to inadequate nutritional conditions in critical windows of development has been associated to disturbances on metabolism and behavior in the offspring later in life. The role of the endocannabinoid system, a known regulator of energy expenditure and adaptive behaviors, in the modulation of these processes is unknown. In the present study, we investigated the impact of exposing rat dams to diet restriction (20% less calories than standard diet) during pre-gestational and gestational periods on: (a) neonatal outcomes; (b) endocannabinoid content in hypothalamus, hippocampus and olfactory bulb at birth; (c) metabolism-related parameters; and (d) behavior in adult male offspring. We found that calorie-restricted dams tended to have a reduced litter size, although the offspring showed normal weight at birth. Pups from calorie-restricted dams also exhibited a strong decrease in the levels of anandamide (AEA), 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), arachidonic acid (AA) and palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) in the hypothalamus at birth. Additionally, pups from diet-restricted dams displayed reduced levels of AEA in the hippocampus without significant differences in the olfactory bulb. Moreover, offspring exhibited increased weight gain, body weight and adiposity in adulthood as well as increased anxiety-related responses. We propose that endocannabinoid signaling is altered by a maternal caloric restriction implemented during the preconceptional and pregnancy periods, which might lead to modifications of the hypothalamic and hippocampal circuits, potentially contributing to the long-term effects found in the adult offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mariam Vázquez
- Departamento de Psicobiología, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Complutense de MadridMadrid, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga (IBIMA), Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Salud Mental, Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, Universidad de MálagaMálaga, Spain
| | - Laura Bindila
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz Mainz, Germany
| | - Ermelinda Lomazzo
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz Mainz, Germany
| | - Clementine Hofmann
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz Mainz, Germany
| | - Rosarío Noemí Blanco
- Departamento de Psicobiología, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Complutense de Madrid Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco Alén
- Departamento de Psicobiología, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Complutense de Madrid Madrid, Spain
| | - María Antón
- Departamento de Psicobiología, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Complutense de Madrid Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan Decara
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga (IBIMA), Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Salud Mental, Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, Universidad de Málaga Málaga, Spain
| | - Rocío Arco
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga (IBIMA), Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Salud Mental, Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, Universidad de Málaga Málaga, Spain
| | - Daniel Ouro
- Departamento de Psicobiología, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Complutense de Madrid Madrid, Spain
| | - Laura Orio
- Departamento de Psicobiología, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Complutense de Madrid Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan Suárez
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga (IBIMA), Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Salud Mental, Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, Universidad de Málaga Málaga, Spain
| | - Beat Lutz
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz Mainz, Germany
| | - Raquel Gómez de Heras
- Departamento de Psicobiología, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Complutense de Madrid Madrid, Spain
| | - Fernando Rodríguez de Fonseca
- Departamento de Psicobiología, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Complutense de MadridMadrid, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga (IBIMA), Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Salud Mental, Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, Universidad de MálagaMálaga, Spain
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Metz TD, Stickrath EH. Marijuana use in pregnancy and lactation: a review of the evidence. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2015; 213:761-78. [PMID: 25986032 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2015.05.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 149] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2015] [Revised: 05/05/2015] [Accepted: 05/13/2015] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
With the legalization of recreational marijuana in many states, we anticipate more women will be using and self-reporting marijuana use in pregnancy. Marijuana is the most common illicit drug used in pregnancy, with a prevalence of use ranging from 3% to 30% in various populations. Marijuana freely crosses the placenta and is found in breast milk. It may have adverse effects on both perinatal outcomes and fetal neurodevelopment. Specifically, marijuana may be associated with fetal growth restriction, stillbirth, and preterm birth. However, data are far from uniform regarding adverse perinatal outcomes. Existing studies are plagued by confounding by tobacco and other drug exposures as well as sociodemographic factors. In addition, there is a lack of quantification of marijuana exposure by the trimester of use and a lack of corroboration of maternal self-report with biological sampling, which contributes to the heterogeneity of study results. There is an emerging body of evidence indicating that marijuana may cause problems with neurological development, resulting in hyperactivity, poor cognitive function, and changes in dopaminergic receptors. In addition, contemporary marijuana products have higher quantities of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol than in the 1980s when much of the marijuana research was completed. The effects on the pregnancy and fetus may therefore be different than those previously seen. Further research is needed to provide evidence-based counseling of women regarding the anticipated outcomes of marijuana use in pregnancy. In the meantime, women should be advised not to use marijuana in pregnancy or while lactating.
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Affiliation(s)
- Torri D Metz
- Denver Health Medical Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Denver, CO; University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO.
| | - Elaine H Stickrath
- Denver Health Medical Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Denver, CO; University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO
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Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: Potential Role of Endocannabinoids Signaling. Brain Sci 2015; 5:456-93. [PMID: 26529026 PMCID: PMC4701023 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci5040456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2015] [Revised: 10/19/2015] [Accepted: 10/19/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the unique features of prenatal alcohol exposure in humans is impaired cognitive and behavioral function resulting from damage to the central nervous system (CNS), which leads to a spectrum of impairments referred to as fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). Human FASD phenotypes can be reproduced in the rodent CNS following prenatal ethanol exposure. Several mechanisms are expected to contribute to the detrimental effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on the developing fetus, particularly in the developing CNS. These mechanisms may act simultaneously or consecutively and differ among a variety of cell types at specific developmental stages in particular brain regions. Studies have identified numerous potential mechanisms through which alcohol can act on the fetus. Among these mechanisms are increased oxidative stress, mitochondrial damage, interference with the activity of growth factors, glia cells, cell adhesion molecules, gene expression during CNS development and impaired function of signaling molecules involved in neuronal communication and circuit formation. These alcohol-induced deficits result in long-lasting abnormalities in neuronal plasticity and learning and memory and can explain many of the neurobehavioral abnormalities found in FASD. In this review, the author discusses the mechanisms that are associated with FASD and provides a current status on the endocannabinoid system in the development of FASD.
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Prenatal exposure to cannabinoids evokes long-lasting functional alterations by targeting CB1 receptors on developing cortical neurons. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2015; 112:13693-8. [PMID: 26460022 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1514962112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The CB1 cannabinoid receptor, the main target of Δ(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the most prominent psychoactive compound of marijuana, plays a crucial regulatory role in brain development as evidenced by the neurodevelopmental consequences of its manipulation in animal models. Likewise, recreational cannabis use during pregnancy affects brain structure and function of the progeny. However, the precise neurobiological substrates underlying the consequences of prenatal THC exposure remain unknown. As CB1 signaling is known to modulate long-range corticofugal connectivity, we analyzed the impact of THC exposure on cortical projection neuron development. THC administration to pregnant mice in a restricted time window interfered with subcerebral projection neuron generation, thereby altering corticospinal connectivity, and produced long-lasting alterations in the fine motor performance of the adult offspring. Consequences of THC exposure were reminiscent of those elicited by CB1 receptor genetic ablation, and CB1-null mice were resistant to THC-induced alterations. The identity of embryonic THC neuronal targets was determined by a Cre-mediated, lineage-specific, CB1 expression-rescue strategy in a CB1-null background. Early and selective CB1 reexpression in dorsal telencephalic glutamatergic neurons but not forebrain GABAergic neurons rescued the deficits in corticospinal motor neuron development of CB1-null mice and restored susceptibility to THC-induced motor alterations. In addition, THC administration induced an increase in seizure susceptibility that was mediated by its interference with CB1-dependent regulation of both glutamatergic and GABAergic neuron development. These findings demonstrate that prenatal exposure to THC has long-lasting deleterious consequences in the adult offspring solely mediated by its ability to disrupt the neurodevelopmental role of CB1 signaling.
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Higuera-Matas A, Ucha M, Ambrosio E. Long-term consequences of perinatal and adolescent cannabinoid exposure on neural and psychological processes. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2015; 55:119-46. [PMID: 25960036 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2015.04.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2014] [Revised: 03/30/2015] [Accepted: 04/29/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Marihuana is the most widely consumed illicit drug, even among adolescents and pregnant women. Given the critical developmental processes that occur in the adolescent and fetal nervous system, marihuana consumption during these stages may have permanent consequences on several brain functions in later adult life. Here, we review what is currently known about the long-term consequences of perinatal and adolescent cannabinoid exposure. The most consistent findings point to long-term impairments in cognitive function that are associated with structural alterations and disturbed synaptic plasticity. In addition, several neurochemical modifications are also evident after prenatal or adolescent cannabinoid exposure, especially in the endocannabinoid, glutamatergic, dopaminergic and opioidergic systems. Important sexual dimorphisms are also evident in terms of the long-lasting effects of cannabinoid consumption during pregnancy and adolescence, and cannabinoids possibly have a protective effect in adolescents who have suffered traumatic life challenges, such as maternal separation or intense stress. Finally, we suggest some future research directions that may encourage further advances in this exciting field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Higuera-Matas
- Department of Psychobiology, School of Psychology, National University of Distance Learning (UNED), C/ Juan del Rosal 10, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Marcos Ucha
- Department of Psychobiology, School of Psychology, National University of Distance Learning (UNED), C/ Juan del Rosal 10, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Emilio Ambrosio
- Department of Psychobiology, School of Psychology, National University of Distance Learning (UNED), C/ Juan del Rosal 10, 28040 Madrid, Spain
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Fischer LK, McGaughy JA, Bradshaw SE, Weissner WJ, Amaral AC, Rosene DL, Mokler DJ, Fitzmaurice GM, Galler JR. Prenatal protein level impacts homing behavior in Long-Evans rat pups. Nutr Neurosci 2015; 19:187-95. [PMID: 25603489 DOI: 10.1179/1476830515y.0000000001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study assessed the effect of varying prenatal protein levels on the development of homing behavior in rat pups. METHODS Long-Evans rats were fed one of the four isocaloric diets containing 6% (n = 7 litters), 12% (n = 9), 18% (n = 9), or 25% (n = 10) casein prior to mating and throughout pregnancy. At birth, litters were fostered to well-nourished control mothers fed a 25% casein diet during pregnancy, and an adequate protein diet (25% casein) was provided to weaning. On postnatal days 5, 7, 9, 11, and 13, homing behaviors, including activity levels, rate of successful returns to the nest quadrant and latencies to reach the nest over a 3-minute test period were recorded from two starting positions in the home cage. Adult body and brain weights were obtained at sacrifice (postnatal day 130 or 200). RESULTS Growth was impaired in pups whose mothers were fed a 6% or, to a lesser extent, a 12% casein diet relative to pups whose mothers were fed the 18 and 25% casein diets. The 6 and 12% prenatal protein levels resulted in lower activity levels, with the greatest reduction on postnatal day 13. However, only the 6% pups had reduced success and higher latencies in reaching the nest quadrant when compared with pups from the three other nutrition groups. Latency in reaching the nest quadrant was significantly and negatively associated with adult brain weight. DISCUSSION Home orientation is a sensitive measure of developmental deficits associated with variations in prenatal protein levels, including levels of protein deficiency that do not lead to overt growth failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- L K Fischer
- a Judge Baker Children's Center and Department of Psychiatry , Harvard Medical School , Boston , MA , USA
| | - J A McGaughy
- b Department of Psychology , University of New Hampshire , Durham , NH , USA
| | - S E Bradshaw
- a Judge Baker Children's Center and Department of Psychiatry , Harvard Medical School , Boston , MA , USA
| | - W J Weissner
- c Department of Biological Sciences , University of New England , Biddeford , ME , USA
| | - A C Amaral
- d Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology , Boston University Medical Campus , Boston , MA , USA
| | - D L Rosene
- d Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology , Boston University Medical Campus , Boston , MA , USA
| | - D J Mokler
- c Department of Biological Sciences , University of New England , Biddeford , ME , USA
| | - G M Fitzmaurice
- e Department of Biostatistics , Harvard School of Public Health , Boston , MA , USA.,f Laboratory for Psychiatric Biostatistics , McLean Hospital , Belmont , MA , USA
| | - J R Galler
- a Judge Baker Children's Center and Department of Psychiatry , Harvard Medical School , Boston , MA , USA
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Atypical antipsychotic paliperidone prevents behavioral deficits in mice prenatally challenged with bacterial endotoxin lipopolysaccharide. Eur J Pharmacol 2015; 747:181-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2014.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2014] [Revised: 09/03/2014] [Accepted: 09/09/2014] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
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Maccarrone M, Guzman M, Mackie K, Doherty P, Harkany T. Programming of neural cells by (endo)cannabinoids: from physiological rules to emerging therapies. Nat Rev Neurosci 2014; 15:786-801. [PMID: 25409697 PMCID: PMC4765324 DOI: 10.1038/nrn3846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 205] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Among the many signalling lipids, endocannabinoids are increasingly recognized for their important roles in neuronal and glial development. Recent experimental evidence suggests that, during neuronal differentiation, endocannabinoid signalling undergoes a fundamental switch from the prenatal determination of cell fate to the homeostatic regulation of synaptic neurotransmission and bioenergetics in the mature nervous system. These studies also offer novel insights into neuropsychiatric disease mechanisms and contribute to the public debate about the benefits and the risks of cannabis use during pregnancy and in adolescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mauro Maccarrone
- School of Medicine and Center of Integrated Research, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Via Alvaro del Portillo 21, I-00128 Rome, Italy
- European Center for Brain Research/Santa Lucia Foundation, Via del Fosso di Fiorano 65, I-00143 Rome, Italy
| | - Manuel Guzman
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas, Complutense University, E-28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Ken Mackie
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Indiana University, 702 N Walnut Grove Ave, Bloomington, IN 47405-2204, USA
| | - Patrick Doherty
- Wolfson Centre for Age-Related Diseases, King's College London SE1 1UL, United Kingdom
| | - Tibor Harkany
- Division of Molecular Neuroscience, Department of Medical Biochemistry & Biophysics, Scheeles väg 1:A1, Karolinska Institutet, SE-17177 Stockholm Sweden
- Department of Molecular Neurosciences, Center for Brain Research, Medical University of Vienna, Spitalgasse 4, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
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Lubman DI, Cheetham A, Yücel M. Cannabis and adolescent brain development. Pharmacol Ther 2014; 148:1-16. [PMID: 25460036 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2014.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 191] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2014] [Accepted: 11/03/2014] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Heavy cannabis use has been frequently associated with increased rates of mental illness and cognitive impairment, particularly amongst adolescent users. However, the neurobiological processes that underlie these associations are still not well understood. In this review, we discuss the findings of studies examining the acute and chronic effects of cannabis use on the brain, with a particular focus on the impact of commencing use during adolescence. Accumulating evidence from both animal and human studies suggests that regular heavy use during this period is associated with more severe and persistent negative outcomes than use during adulthood, suggesting that the adolescent brain may be particularly vulnerable to the effects of cannabis exposure. As the endocannabinoid system plays an important role in brain development, it is plausible that prolonged use during adolescence results in a disruption in the normative neuromaturational processes that occur during this period. We identify synaptic pruning and white matter development as two processes that may be adversely impacted by cannabis exposure during adolescence. Potentially, alterations in these processes may underlie the cognitive and emotional deficits that have been associated with regular use commencing during adolescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan I Lubman
- Turning Point, Eastern Health and Eastern Health Clinical School, Monash University, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Ali Cheetham
- Turning Point, Eastern Health and Eastern Health Clinical School, Monash University, Victoria, Australia
| | - Murat Yücel
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne and Melbourne Health, Victoria, Australia; Monash Clinical & Imaging Neuroscience, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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Anandamide protects HT22 cells exposed to hydrogen peroxide by inhibiting CB1 receptor-mediated type 2 NADPH oxidase. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2014; 2014:893516. [PMID: 25136404 PMCID: PMC4127243 DOI: 10.1155/2014/893516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2013] [Revised: 06/23/2014] [Accepted: 06/25/2014] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Background. Endogenous cannabinoid anandamide (AEA) protects neurons from oxidative injury in rodent models; however the mechanism of AEA-induced neuroprotection remains to be determined. Activation of neuronal NADPH oxidase 2 (Nox2) contributes to oxidative damage of the brain, and inhibition of Nox2 can attenuate cerebral oxidative stress. We aimed to determine whether the neuronal Nox2 was involved in protection mediated by AEA. Methods. The mouse hippocampal neuron cell line HT22 was exposed to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to mimic oxidative injury of neurons. The protective effect of AEA was assessed by measuring cell metabolic activity, apoptosis, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, cellular morphology, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), and antioxidant and oxidant levels and Nox2 expression. Results. HT22 cells exposed to H2O2 demonstrated morphological changes, decreased LDH release, reduced metabolic activity, increased levels of intracellular ROS and oxidized glutathione (GSSG), reduced levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), and reduced glutathione (GSH) and increased expression of Nox2. AEA prevented these effects, a property abolished by simultaneous administration of CB1 antagonist AM251 or CB1-siRNA. Conclusion. Nox2 inhibition is involved in AEA-induced cytoprotection against oxidative stress through CB1 activation in HT22 cells.
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Prenatal corticosterone and adolescent URB597 administration modulate emotionality and CB1 receptor expression in mice. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2014; 231:2131-44. [PMID: 24311359 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-013-3367-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2013] [Accepted: 11/14/2013] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE The central endocannabinoid system (eCB system) sustains the activity of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in mediating individual emotional responses. Deviation in maturational trajectories of these two physiological systems, may persistently adjust individual behavioral phenotype. OBJECTIVE We investigated, in outbred CD1 male mice, whether exposure to prenatal stress may influence short- and long-term emotional and neurochemical responses to a pharmacological stimulation of the eCB system during adolescence. METHODS To mimic prenatal stress, pregnant mice were supplemented with corticosterone in the drinking water (33.3 mg/l); their adolescent male offspring received daily injections of the fatty acid amide hydrolase inhibitor, URB597 (0.4 mg/kg), in order to enhance eCB signaling. Mice were then tested for: locomotor activity during adolescence and locomotor activity, anxiogenic, and anhedonic profiles in adulthood. We analyzed the expression of CB1 receptors (CB1Rs) in prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, striatum, and cerebellum in adulthood. RESULTS Corticosterone administration (PC group) resulted, in adolescence, in a reduction in body weight and locomotion, while in adulthood, in increased anxiety-related behavior and reduced CB1Rs expression in cerebellum. URB597 exposure reduced locomotor activity and increased anhedonia in adulthood. CB1Rs were up-regulated in striatum and hippocampus and down-regulated in the cerebellum. PC-URB597 mice failed to show reductions in locomotion; exhibited increased risk assessment behavior; and showed reduced CB1Rs expression within the prefrontal cortex. CONCLUSIONS Present results provide support to the hypothesis that precocious manipulations mapping onto the HPA axis and eCB system may persistently adjust individual emotional responses and eCB system plasticity.
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