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Neonatal Cannabidiol Exposure Impairs Spatial Memory and Disrupts Neuronal Dendritic Morphology in Young Adult Rats
Meetu Wadhwa1, Gregory A Chinn1, Jennifer M Sasaki Russell1
1Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, California, USA.
Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research
|September 10, 2024
Summary
Neonatal exposure to cannabidiol (CBD) impaired spatial memory in female rats and reduced dendritic complexity in both sexes. This highlights potential risks of CBD on developing brains.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Early life is critical for brain development.
- Perinatal cannabis exposure may disrupt neurodevelopment.
- Effects of cannabidiol (CBD) on the developing brain are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the long-term effects of neonatal CBD exposure on behavior and neuronal morphology in rats.
- To determine if CBD exposure during early development causes lasting changes in spatial memory and anxiety.
- To assess CBD's impact on dendritic architecture in the cortex and hippocampus.
Main Methods:
- Neonatal Sprague Dawley rats received CBD (50 mg/kg) on postnatal days 1, 3, and 5.
- Behavioral tests (Barnes maze, open field, elevated plus maze) assessed spatial memory and anxiety in adulthood.
- Golgi-Cox staining evaluated dendritic length, spine density, and arborization in cortical and hippocampal neurons.
Main Results:
- CBD-exposed female rats showed spatial memory deficits, unlike males.
- No significant changes in anxiety-like behavior were observed in either sex.
- CBD exposure decreased dendritic length and spine density in both sexes.
- Reduced dendritic arborization was noted in the cortex and hippocampus.
Conclusions:
- Neonatal CBD exposure disrupts normal brain development.
- Lasting alterations in spatial memory and neuronal morphology occur post-CBD exposure.
- Sex-dependent sensitivity to CBD's developmental effects was observed.
