Differential anxiogenic, aversive, and locomotor effects of THC in adolescent and adult rats.
BACKGROUND
Unpleasant side effects of drugs of abuse often limit their repeated use; however, such effects may be attenuated in adolescents compared to adults.


OBJECTIVE
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.
Schramm-Sapyta
Nicole L
NL
Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Room 100B Research Park Bldg 2, P.O. Box 3813, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
Cha
Young May
YM
Chaudhry
Saba
S
Wilson
Wilkie A
WA
Swartzwelder
H Scott
HS
Kuhn
Cynthia M
CM
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood; D000367:Age Factors; D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D001007:Anxiety; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D003213:Conditioning, Psychological / Q000187:drug effects; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006213:Hallucinogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D013649:Taste; D013997:Time Factors
D006213:Hallucinogens; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs; D013759:Dronabinol; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D003345:Corticosterone