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Repeated Δ-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol administration dose dependently increases stablished schedule-induced drinking
Esmeralda Fuentes-Verdugo1, Ricardo Pellón1, Miguel Miguéns2
1Departamento de Psicología Básica I, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED), C/ Juan del Rosal 10, Ciudad Universitaria, Madrid, 28040, Spain.
Psychopharmacology
|February 27, 2024
Summary
Repeated THC administration increased licking in rats but did not reduce compulsive behaviors. This suggests THC may not be beneficial for treating compulsive disorders and could lead to habitual-like behaviors.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Behavioral Pharmacology
- Cannabinoid Research
Background:
- Schedule-induced drinking (SID) is an animal model for compulsive behaviors.
- Cannabis derivatives are being explored for obsessive-compulsive disorders, despite known adverse effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of repeated delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) administration on established SID.
- To assess alterations in the temporal distribution of SID behaviors during inter-food intervals.
Main Methods:
- Male Wistar rats were trained to acquire SID under a fixed-time food delivery schedule.
- Rats received daily intraperitoneal injections of 5 or 10 mg/kg THC or vehicle for seven days.
Main Results:
- A 5 mg/kg dose of THC increased licking rates, while the 10 mg/kg dose showed no effect on SID.
- Both THC doses reduced magazine entries, indicating altered behavioral patterns.
- THC administration modified the temporal distribution of licking and magazine entries within inter-food intervals.
Conclusions:
- Repeated THC administration can increase licking, reduce magazine entries, and alter the temporal pattern of SID.
- THC does not appear to alleviate compulsive behavior in this animal model.
- Potential for THC to induce habitual-like behaviors warrants further consideration.
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