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Differential anxiogenic, aversive, and locomotor effects of THC in adolescent and adult rats.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Schramm-Sapyta, NL; Cha, YM; Chaudhry, S; Wilson, WA; Swartzwelder, HS; Kuhn, CM
Published in: Psychopharmacology (Berl)
May 2007

RATIONALE: Unpleasant side effects of drugs of abuse often limit their repeated use; however, such effects may be attenuated in adolescents compared to adults. OBJECTIVES: We investigated whether the anxiogenic, aversive, or locomotor effects of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) differ between adolescent and adult rats. METHODS: We used the elevated plus maze (EPM) and light-dark tests of anxiety, the conditioned taste aversion and conditioned place aversion (CPA) tests of generalized aversion, and measures of stress hormone levels in serum to examine effects of THC in adolescent and adult rats. Locomotor activity was also recorded in the EPM, light-dark task, and CPA association sessions. RESULTS: In the EPM and light-dark tasks, THC was anxiogenic in both age groups, but the drug was more anxiogenic in adults than in adolescents. In the place and taste aversion tasks, THC was aversive in both ages, and at 1.25 and 5 mg/kg, was more aversive in adults than in adolescents. The locomotor response to THC, as measured in the anxiety tasks and CPA, affected adults more than adolescents. Multiple measures revealed a locomotor-decreasing effect in adults, whereas some measures suggested a small locomotor-increasing effect in adolescent rats. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that THC can have greater anxiogenic, aversive, and locomotor-reducing effects in adult rats than in adolescent rats. These findings suggest an explanation for reduced marijuana use in adult humans compared to teenagers.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Psychopharmacology (Berl)

DOI

ISSN

0033-3158

Publication Date

May 2007

Volume

191

Issue

4

Start / End Page

867 / 877

Location

Germany

Related Subject Headings

  • Time Factors
  • Taste
  • Rats
  • Psychotropic Drugs
  • Psychiatry
  • Motor Activity
  • Male
  • Hallucinogens
  • Dronabinol
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
 

Citation

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ICMJE
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Schramm-Sapyta, N. L., Cha, Y. M., Chaudhry, S., Wilson, W. A., Swartzwelder, H. S., & Kuhn, C. M. (2007). Differential anxiogenic, aversive, and locomotor effects of THC in adolescent and adult rats. Psychopharmacology (Berl), 191(4), 867–877. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-006-0676-9
Schramm-Sapyta, Nicole L., Young May Cha, Saba Chaudhry, Wilkie A. Wilson, H Scott Swartzwelder, and Cynthia M. Kuhn. “Differential anxiogenic, aversive, and locomotor effects of THC in adolescent and adult rats.Psychopharmacology (Berl) 191, no. 4 (May 2007): 867–77. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-006-0676-9.
Schramm-Sapyta NL, Cha YM, Chaudhry S, Wilson WA, Swartzwelder HS, Kuhn CM. Differential anxiogenic, aversive, and locomotor effects of THC in adolescent and adult rats. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2007 May;191(4):867–77.
Schramm-Sapyta, Nicole L., et al. “Differential anxiogenic, aversive, and locomotor effects of THC in adolescent and adult rats.Psychopharmacology (Berl), vol. 191, no. 4, May 2007, pp. 867–77. Pubmed, doi:10.1007/s00213-006-0676-9.
Schramm-Sapyta NL, Cha YM, Chaudhry S, Wilson WA, Swartzwelder HS, Kuhn CM. Differential anxiogenic, aversive, and locomotor effects of THC in adolescent and adult rats. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2007 May;191(4):867–877.
Journal cover image

Published In

Psychopharmacology (Berl)

DOI

ISSN

0033-3158

Publication Date

May 2007

Volume

191

Issue

4

Start / End Page

867 / 877

Location

Germany

Related Subject Headings

  • Time Factors
  • Taste
  • Rats
  • Psychotropic Drugs
  • Psychiatry
  • Motor Activity
  • Male
  • Hallucinogens
  • Dronabinol
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug