Vaporized THC suppressed dopamine receptor genes in mouse hippocampus, with most changes recovering within 14 days
Single exposure to vaporized THC downregulated dopamine receptor genes in mouse hippocampus while CBD altered Wnt signaling genes, with most changes recovering by day 14 except persistent Adcy5 suppression from THC.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
THC upregulated glutamate receptor genes and downregulated dopamine genes (Drd1, Drd2, Gnal, Adcy5); CBD altered Wnt7a and Camk2b; most changes recovered by day 14 except Adcy5; lncRNA-mRNA correlations suggest regulatory mechanisms.
Key Numbers
50mg vaporized CBD or THC; n=5 per group; Drd2 returned to baseline by day 14; Adcy5 remained suppressed through day 14; Wnt7a (CBD) showed gradual recovery.
How They Did This
Male ICR mice exposed to vaporized CBD or THC (50mg, n=5/group); hippocampal RNA sequencing at day 1; qRT-PCR validation at days 1, 3, and 14.
Why This Research Matters
Vaping is the most common cannabis consumption method among young adults, and understanding hippocampal gene expression changes reveals molecular mechanisms behind cognitive effects.
The Bigger Picture
The finding that most THC-induced gene changes recover within 2 weeks but some persist suggests molecular effects of single cannabis exposure outlast others.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Single acute exposure; mouse model; 50mg vaporized dose may not reflect human use; only hippocampus examined; gene changes may not translate to behavior.
Questions This Raises
- ?Does persistent Adcy5 suppression have functional consequences?
- ?Would repeated exposures prevent recovery?
- ?Do these changes differ in adolescent versus adult mice?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Drd2 recovered by day 14 but Adcy5 remained suppressed, suggesting persistent molecular effects
- Evidence Grade:
- Controlled molecular study with time-course validation, but single-dose design and mouse model limit clinical relevance.
- Study Age:
- Published 2025
- Original Title:
- Large-Scale Profiling of Coding and Long Noncoding Transcriptomes in the Hippocampus of Mice Acutely Exposed to Vaporized CBD or THC.
- Published In:
- International journal of molecular sciences, 26(15) (2025)
- Authors:
- Choi, Mi Ran, Kim, Jihun, Park, Chaeeun, Chang, Seok Hwan, Kim, Han-Na, Jin, Yeung Bae, Lee, Sang-Rae
- Database ID:
- RTHC-06214
Evidence Hierarchy
Tests effects in animals (usually mice or rats), not humans.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
What did vaporized THC do to the brain at the gene level?
THC downregulated dopamine receptor genes and upregulated glutamate receptor genes in the hippocampus. Most changes recovered within 14 days.
Were CBD effects different from THC?
Yes. CBD primarily affected Wnt signaling and calcium signaling genes rather than dopamine pathways, suggesting distinct molecular mechanisms.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-06214APA
Choi, Mi Ran; Kim, Jihun; Park, Chaeeun; Chang, Seok Hwan; Kim, Han-Na; Jin, Yeung Bae; Lee, Sang-Rae. (2025). Large-Scale Profiling of Coding and Long Noncoding Transcriptomes in the Hippocampus of Mice Acutely Exposed to Vaporized CBD or THC.. International journal of molecular sciences, 26(15). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26157106
MLA
Choi, Mi Ran, et al. "Large-Scale Profiling of Coding and Long Noncoding Transcriptomes in the Hippocampus of Mice Acutely Exposed to Vaporized CBD or THC.." International journal of molecular sciences, 2025. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26157106
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Large-Scale Profiling of Coding and Long Noncoding Transcrip..." RTHC-06214. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/choi-2025-largescale-profiling-of-coding
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.