Skip to main content Accessibility help
×
Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-8ctnn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T04:50:36.305Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

7 - The impact of pubertal exposure to cannabis on the brain: a focus on animal studies

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 November 2011

David Castle
Affiliation:
University of Melbourne
Robin M. Murray
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry
Deepak Cyril D'Souza
Affiliation:
Yale University, Connecticut
Get access

Summary

This chapter surveys possible lasting consequences of cannabinoid exposure during crucial periods of pubertal and adolescent maturation reported from animal studies. Endocannabinoids and their cannabinoid receptors, CB1 and CB2, are present from the early stages of gestation and play a number of vital roles for the developing organism. Beside direct alterations in the endocannabinoid or other neurotransmitter systems, adolescent/pubertal cannabinoid exposure has been reported to affect cortical and limbic systems in particular. Global evidence indicates that cannabis use/abuse acts as a risk factor for the emergence of schizophrenia, especially among early-onset cannabis users. Similar indications were observed in animal studies, where chronic pubertal, but not adult, cannabinoid treatment resulted in lasting behavioral deficits, resembling at least some aspects of schizophrenia. Data from animal research point out clearly that the age at which an individual is exposed to cannabinoids has major impact on subsequent effects of this drug.
Type
Chapter
Information
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2011

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Save book to Kindle

To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure [email protected] is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

Available formats
×

Save book to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

Available formats
×