The psychoactive ingredient of marijuana induces behavioural sensitization

Citation
T. Rubino et al., The psychoactive ingredient of marijuana induces behavioural sensitization, EUR J NEURO, 14(5), 2001, pp. 884-886
Citations number
14
Categorie Soggetti
Neurosciences & Behavoir
Journal title
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
ISSN journal
0953816X → ACNP
Volume
14
Issue
5
Year of publication
2001
Pages
884 - 886
Database
ISI
SICI code
0953-816X(200109)14:5<884:TPIOMI>2.0.ZU;2-5
Abstract
Here we describe, for the first time, the occurrence of behavioural sensiti zation after chronic exposure to Delta (9)-tetrahydrocannabinol. Rats were treated twice a day, for five days, with increasing doses (5, 10, 20, 40, 4 0 mg/kg i.p.) of Delta (9)-tetrahydrocannabinol or its vehicle and after 20 days of withdrawal, animals were challenged with 5 mg/kg (i.p.) of the dru g and their behaviour was assessed. Contrary to the motor inhibition induce d in control rats, challenge with Delta (9)-tetrahydrocannabinol in pre-exp osed animals elicited a complex behavioural syndrome mainly characterized b y oral stereotyped items. Due to the relevance of behavioural sensitization in drug-seeking behaviour that persists long after discontinuation of drug use, our findings suggest that cannabinoids could trigger neurobiological alteration not dissimilar from those observed with more harmful abused drug s.