Cannabis interferes with nest-building behavior in mice

Area of Science:

• Behavioral Neuroscience
• Pharmacology
• Psychopharmacology

Background:

• Nest-building behavior is a sensitive indicator of behavioral disruption.
• The psychotomimetic effects of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta9-THC) and cannabis pyrolysis products remain incompletely understood.
• Previous research has not utilized nest-building as a model to study these effects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the psychotomimetic effects of delta9-THC and various cannabis and tobacco pyrolysis fractions.
• To assess the disruption of nest-building behavior as a measure of these effects.
• To compare the behavioral effects of delta9-THC with inhaled cannabis and tobacco smoke components.

Main Methods:

• Utilized nest-building behavior as the primary behavioral model.
• Administered d-amphetamine, pentobarbital, delta9-THC, and specific cannabis/tobacco pyrolysis fractions via intraperitoneal injection.
• Compared the disruption of normal behavioral patterns across different drug conditions.

Main Results:

• Delta9-THC (10 mg/kg), cannabis fraction IIs, and fraction IIIs showed similar disruptive effects on nest-building.
• d-Amphetamine, delta9-THC (5 mg/kg), and tobacco fraction IIB also disrupted behavior.
• Unexpected similarities were observed between cannabis fractions IIs and IIIs, despite differing cannabinoid content, and between delta9-THC and fraction IIIB.

Conclusions:

• Nest-building behavior is a viable model for assessing the psychotomimetic effects of delta9-THC and cannabis pyrolysis products.
• Cannabis smoke inhalation products (IIIs) share behavioral disruptive properties with delta9-THC.
• Further research is warranted to elucidate the specific compounds and mechanisms responsible for these observed behavioral disruptions.