Rabbit behavioral model of marijuana psychoactivity in humans.
In a genetically unique colony of tetrahydrocannabinol-seizure susceptible (THC-SS) rabbits, nonfatal convulsions are elicited by delta 9THC, the major psychoactive ingredient of marijuana. The major characteristics of cannabinoid-produced psychoactivity (the "high") in humans, e.g., dose-effect relationships, specificity of response to only psychoactive cannabinoids, tolerance development, EEG correlates, and delta 9THC-cannabidiol interactive effects, are also characteristics of cannabinoid-induced behavioral convulsions in the rabbits. Because of these and other theoretical and practical considerations, it is hypothesized that the THC-SS rabbit represents a novel laboratory animal model of marijuana-induced psychoactivity in humans.
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D002185:Cannabidiol / Q000494:pharmacology; D002186:Cannabinoids / Q000494:pharmacology; D002188:Cannabis; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004361:Drug Tolerance; D004569:Electroencephalography; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D011817:Rabbits; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced*
D002186:Cannabinoids; D002185:Cannabidiol; D013759:Dronabinol