PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Alex Mabou Tagne
AU  - Yannick Fotio
AU  - Tarif Ibne Rashid
AU  - Daniele Piomelli
TI  - Persistent Exposure to Δ<sup>9</sup>-Tetrahydrocannabinol during Adolescence Does Not Affect Nociceptive Responding in Adult Mice
AID  - 10.1124/jpet.121.000740
DP  - 2021 Sep 01
TA  - Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
PG  - 215--221
VI  - 378
IP  - 3
4099  - http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/378/3/215.short
4100  - http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/378/3/215.full
SO  - J Pharmacol Exp Ther2021 Sep 01; 378
AB  - Evidence suggests that Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), the intoxicating component of cannabis, causes enduring changes in the structure and function of adolescent brain circuits implicated in nociceptive responding. However, whether such changes might persistently disrupt nociceptive behaviors remains unknown. In the present study, we subjected C57BL6/J mice of both sexes to once-daily injections of Δ9-THC (5 mg-kg−1, i.p.) or vehicle throughout adolescence (PND 30–43) and, when the animals had reached adulthood (PND 70), assessed nociceptive behavior using the formalin and chronic constriction injury tests. We also investigated, using the tail immersion test, the antinociceptive effects of morphine and the development of tolerance to such effects. The results show that adolescent Δ9-THC exposure does not significantly impair nociceptive responding or morphine-related antinociception and tolerance. The findings suggest that frequent exposure to a moderate dose of Δ9-THC during adolescence does not permanently alter nociceptive circuits in male or female mice.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The endocannabinoid system serves critical functions in the central and peripheral nervous systems, including regulation of pain, and can be modified by prolonged exposure to the intoxicating constituent of cannabis, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC). This raises the possibility that regular use of Δ9-THC–containing cannabis during adolescence might cause changes in nociception that persist into adulthood. This study found that frequent early-life exposure to a moderate dose of Δ9-THC does not permanently alter nociceptive function in male or female mice.