Submission Type
Poster
Abstract
Prior studies have suggested various physiological and behavioral impairments following adolescent exposure to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) – the primary psychoactive compound in marijuana. As marijuana legalization continues to expand both for medical and recreational use, concerns have arisen over the long-term effects of consumer use of THC in teens. The present study aimed to identify potential psychomotor and somatosensory effects of THC in Long-Evans rats. Two exposure cohorts were created: a perinatal cohort (gestation until weaning) and a juvenile cohort (throughout the pubertal period). Motor function was assessed using a grip strength test, while somatosensory function was assessed using a tail-flick apparatus that elicited a somatosensory reflex. Both tests were administered at three age points: young adulthood, middle age, and senescence. Preliminary results suggest that there are differences in grip strength and somatosensory reflex latency time for the exposed rats compared to control groups, and that these effects persist over time. Our initial findings will be further interpreted to properly educate the public on the potential deleterious effects of marijuana use by pregnant women and teens.
Recommended Citation
Wilson, Charlie, "281 - Effects of Advancing Age on Motor and Somatosensory Functions in Rats Exposed to Tetrahydrocannabinol During the Perinatal or Juvenile Developmental Periods" (2025). GREAT Day Posters. 84.
https://knightscholar.geneseo.edu/great-day-symposium/great-day-2025/posters-2025/84
281 - Effects of Advancing Age on Motor and Somatosensory Functions in Rats Exposed to Tetrahydrocannabinol During the Perinatal or Juvenile Developmental Periods
Prior studies have suggested various physiological and behavioral impairments following adolescent exposure to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) – the primary psychoactive compound in marijuana. As marijuana legalization continues to expand both for medical and recreational use, concerns have arisen over the long-term effects of consumer use of THC in teens. The present study aimed to identify potential psychomotor and somatosensory effects of THC in Long-Evans rats. Two exposure cohorts were created: a perinatal cohort (gestation until weaning) and a juvenile cohort (throughout the pubertal period). Motor function was assessed using a grip strength test, while somatosensory function was assessed using a tail-flick apparatus that elicited a somatosensory reflex. Both tests were administered at three age points: young adulthood, middle age, and senescence. Preliminary results suggest that there are differences in grip strength and somatosensory reflex latency time for the exposed rats compared to control groups, and that these effects persist over time. Our initial findings will be further interpreted to properly educate the public on the potential deleterious effects of marijuana use by pregnant women and teens.
Comments
Sponsored by Vincent Markowski