Concomitant THC and stress adolescent exposure induces impaired fear extinction and related neurobiological changes in adulthood.

Δ-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) consumption during adolescence is reported to be a risk factor for the appearance of psychiatric disorders later in life. The interaction between genetic or environmental events and cannabinoid exposure in the adolescent period can also contribute to exacerbate behavioural deficits in adulthood. Here we investigate the effects of THC treatment as well as the consequences of concomitant THC and stress exposure during adolescence in the extinction of fear memory in adult mice.

Involvement of the orexin/hypocretin system in the pharmacological effects induced by Δ(9) -tetrahydrocannabinol.

Background And Purpose: Anatomical, biochemical and pharmacological evidence suggest the existence of a crosstalk between the orexinergic and endocannabinoid systems. While the orexin receptor 1 (OX1 receptor) modulates the reinforcing properties of cannabinoids, the participation of orexins in the acute pharmacological effects of Δ(9) -tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) remains unexplored.

Experimental Approach: We assessed the possible role of orexins in THC-induced hypolocomotion, hypothermia, antinociception, anxiolytic- and anxiogenic-like effects and memory impairment.