THC produced the same physiological effects in HIV-model rats and healthy controls without worsening HIV-related motivation deficits

THC at 3 mg/kg reduced pain sensitivity, body temperature, and locomotor activity across all genotypes, with some sex-dependent effects. HIV transgenic rats showed lower motivation than one control strain but not the other, and while acute THC reduced motivation, chronic treatment (16 days) did not.

Two experiments using female and male HIV-1 transgenic rats and two control strains (wildtype littermates and Fischer344). Experiment 1 tested acute THC effects using the cannabinoid tetrad assay (nociception, temperature, locomotion). Experiment 2 used the Progressive Ratio Breakpoint Task to assess motivation at baseline, after acute THC, and after 16 days of chronic THC.

People living with HIV use cannabis at higher rates than the general population, often to manage symptoms. Understanding whether THC worsens or improves HIV-associated motivational deficits is important for clinical guidance.

This study suggests THC does not exacerbate HIV-related motivation problems, at least in this animal model. Combined with reports that cannabis helps manage HIV-related symptoms like nausea and appetite loss, it paints a more nuanced picture of cannabis use in this population.

Animal model may not fully replicate human HIV or cannabis use patterns. HIV transgenic rats only showed motivation deficits compared to one control strain, raising questions about the model itself. THC was administered by injection rather than smoked or vaped.