Mouse Model of Prenatal THC Exposure Shows Anxiety, Depression, and Increased Alcohol Preference in Offspring
Mice exposed to high-dose synthetic THC during pregnancy and nursing showed increased anxiety, depressive behavior, cognitive impairment, and greater motivation to drink alcohol in adulthood, with sex-dependent differences.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Offspring exposed to dronabinol (10 mg/kg twice daily) from gestational day 5 through postnatal day 21 displayed increased anxiogenic and depressive-like behaviors, cognitive impairment, disrupted reward system function, and increased alcohol consumption motivation at postnatal day 60. Effects varied by sex.
Key Numbers
Dronabinol dose: 10 mg/kg twice daily; exposure window: gestational day 5 to postnatal day 21; behavioral testing at postnatal day 60; sex-dependent effects observed
How They Did This
Female C57BL/6J mice received oral dronabinol (10 mg/kg every 12 hours) from gestational day 5 to postnatal day 21. Offspring were separated by sex at weaning and assessed at postnatal day 60.
Why This Research Matters
This is one of the first animal models attempting to characterize a comprehensive 'fetal cannabinoid syndrome,' linking prenatal THC exposure to both behavioral and molecular changes in the brain.
The Bigger Picture
While human studies show mixed results, this animal model provides a controlled look at what high-dose THC exposure during development might do.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
The dronabinol dose is very high relative to typical human cannabis use. Results from inbred mouse strains may not translate directly to humans. Only one dose level tested.
Questions This Raises
- ?Do lower, more physiologically relevant THC doses produce similar effects?
- ?Do the sex-dependent patterns mirror any patterns in human studies?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Offspring showed increased motivation to consume alcohol alongside anxiety and cognitive impairment
- Evidence Grade:
- Single animal study using very high dose. Controlled design but limited translatability.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2024.
- Original Title:
- Fetal Cannabinoid Syndrome: Behavioral and Brain Alterations of the Offspring Exposed to Dronabinol during Gestation and Lactation.
- Published In:
- International journal of molecular sciences, 25(13) (2024)
- Authors:
- Navarro, Daniela(5), Gasparyan, Ani(5), Navarrete, Francisco(9), Manzanares, Jorge
- Database ID:
- RTHC-05588
Evidence Hierarchy
Tests effects in animals (usually mice or rats), not humans.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
What is 'fetal cannabinoid syndrome'?
A proposed term for behavioral and brain changes in offspring from cannabis exposure during pregnancy, analogous to fetal alcohol syndrome.
Were the doses comparable to human use?
No. The doses were very high (10 mg/kg twice daily), substantially more than typical human exposure.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-05588APA
Navarro, Daniela; Gasparyan, Ani; Navarrete, Francisco; Manzanares, Jorge. (2024). Fetal Cannabinoid Syndrome: Behavioral and Brain Alterations of the Offspring Exposed to Dronabinol during Gestation and Lactation.. International journal of molecular sciences, 25(13). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25137453
MLA
Navarro, Daniela, et al. "Fetal Cannabinoid Syndrome: Behavioral and Brain Alterations of the Offspring Exposed to Dronabinol during Gestation and Lactation.." International journal of molecular sciences, 2024. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25137453
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Fetal Cannabinoid Syndrome: Behavioral and Brain Alterations..." RTHC-05588. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/navarro-2024-fetal-cannabinoid-syndrome-behavioral
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.