These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


Pubmed for Handhelds

PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed

  • Title: Assessment of dependence potential and abuse liability of Δ8-tetrahydrocannabinol in mice.
    Author: Vanegas SO, Reck AM, Rodriguez CE, Marusich JA, Yassin O, Sotzing G, Wiley JL, Kinsey SG.
    Journal: Drug Alcohol Depend; 2022 Nov 01; 240():109640. PubMed ID: 36179506.
    Abstract:
    Delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ8-THC) is a psychotropic cannabinoid produced in low quantities in the cannabis plant. Refinements in production techniques, paired with the availability of inexpensive cannabidiol substrate, have resulted in Δ8-THC being widely marketed as a quasi-legal, purportedly milder alternative to Δ9-THC. Yet, little research has probed the behavioral and physiological effects of repeated Δ8-THC use. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of acute and repeated exposure to Δ8-THC. We hypothesized that Δ8-THC produces effects similar to Δ9-THC, including signs of drug tolerance and dependence. Adult male and female C57BL/6J mice were treated acutely with Δ8-THC (6.25-100 mg/kg, i.p.) or vehicle and tested in the tetrad battery to quantify cannabimimetic effects (i.e., catalepsy, antinociception, hypothermia, immobility) as compared with a non-selective synthetic cannabinoid (WIN 55,212-2) and Δ9-THC. As previously reported, Δ8-THC (≥12.5 mg/kg) induced cannabimimetic effects. Pretreatment with the CB1 receptor-selective antagonist rimonabant (3 mg/kg, i.p.) blocked each of these effects. In addition, repeated administration of Δ8-THC (50 mg/kg, s.c.) produced tolerance, as well as cross-tolerance to WIN 55,212-2 (10 mg/kg, s.c.) in tetrad, consistent with downregulated CB1 receptor function. Behavioral signs of physical dependence in the somatic signs, tail suspension, and marble burying assays were also observed following rimonabant-precipitated withdrawal from Δ8-THC (≥10 mg/kg BID for 6 days). Lastly, Δ8-THC produced Δ9-THC-like discriminative stimulus effects in both male and female mice. Together, these findings demonstrate that Δ8-THC produces qualitatively similar effects to Δ9-THC, including risk of drug dependence and abuse liability.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]