Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of aerosolized (“vaped”) ThC in adolescent male and female rats.

Introduction:
This text provides a thorough characterization of the pharmacokinetics of aerosolized ThC (commonly referred to as 'vaping') inhaled by adolescent male and female Wistar rats. It serves as a benchmark for aerosol inhalation dosing in adolescent rats, which will facilitate well-characterized, translationally relevant future studies on the acute and persistent effects of ThC on the developing adolescent brain.

Key Points:

* The study characterized the pharmacokinetics of aerosolized ThC in adolescent male and female Wistar rats.
* aerosol inhalation led to a more rapid rise in ThC blood than did i.p. dosing, with maximum plasma concentrations observed 5 min after the 30-min session in both sexes and at both doses.
* ThC blood concentrations were higher after high-dose, relative to low-dose ThC aerosol.
* No sex differences were observed in brain ThC levels, but there was a major sex difference in blood and brain concentrations of ThC metabolites.
* Females had greater concentrations of the bioactive metabolite 11-Oh ThC in blood and brain than did males, which might explain the drug's generally stronger behavioral effects in females relative to males.
* The study also found that inhalation might afford greater access to the central nervous system than does i.p. injection.
* The findings will help to assess the translational relevance of this exposure model and progress toward increasingly translationally relevant animal models of adolescent ThC exposure.

Main Message:
The study provides valuable information on the pharmacokinetics of aerosolized ThC in adolescent rats, which can be used to facilitate well-characterized, translationally relevant future studies on the acute and persistent effects of ThC on the developing adolescent brain. The findings highlight the importance of considering sex differences in ThC metabolism and pharmacodynamics, which could have significant implications for the design and interpretation of preclinical and clinical studies. Overall, the study underscores the need for continued research on the effects of ThC exposure during adolescence and the potential risks associated with vaping.

Ruiz CM, Torrens a, Lallai V, et al. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of aerosolized (“vaped”) ThC in adolescent male and female rats. Psychopharmacology. 2021;238(12):3595-3605. doi:10.1007/s00213-021-05976-8