Divergent outcomes of delta 9 - tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in adolescence on mesocortical dopamine and cognitive development in male and female mice.

ABSTRACT: The increasing exposure to delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in youth sparks concerns about disruption of ongoing neurodevelopment. During adolescence, dopamine axons continue to grow from the striatum to the prefrontal cortex, promoting the refinement of inhibitory control. This process is coordinated by the Netrin-1 receptor, DCC, which is regulated by microRNA miR-218. In addition, microglial actions significantly influence adolescent cortical refinement. Here, we show that THC in adolescent mice has sex-specific effects on dopamine innervation in the adult prefrontal cortex. While females show no changes, in males, THC leads to a reduction in the volume occupied by dopamine axons in the medial prefrontal cortex and a decrease in the density of their presynaptic sites. However, it incr

SUBMITTER: Capolicchio T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12785172 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature