Summary
Introduction:
This text provides an overview of a study examining the effects of prenatal cannabis exposure on emotional, social, and cognitive endpoints in male and female offspring during early development and into adulthood. The study uses a novel e-cigarette technology-based system to deliver vaporized cannabis extracts to pregnant Long Evans rats. The results indicate that prenatal cannabis exposure causes enduring effects on the behavioral profile of offspring.
Key Points:
* The study uses a novel e-cigarette technology-based system to deliver vaporized cannabis extracts to pregnant Long Evans rats.
* Dams were exposed to cannabis vapor, vehicle vapor, or no vapor twice daily during mating and gestation.
* Offspring exposed to cannabis vapor showed reduced weight gain, increased emotional reactivity, altered social behavior, and impaired cognitive performance in adulthood.
* The study provides evidence for the long-term effects of prenatal cannabis exposure on offspring behavior, independent of confounding factors such as underreporting of use and co-use of other drugs.
Main Message:
The study underscores the importance of understanding the long-term ramifications of prenatal cannabis exposure, as its use among pregnant women continues to rise. The findings suggest that prenatal cannabis exposure has enduring effects on the behavioral profile of offspring, highlighting the need for further research and public health initiatives to address this growing concern.
Citation
Weimar hV, Wright hR, Warrick CR, et al. Long-term effects of maternal cannabis vapor exposure on emotional reactivity, social behavior, and behavioral flexibility in offspring. Neuropharmacology. 2020;179:108288. doi:10.1016/j.neuropharm.2020.108288
