Maternal cannabis use alters ventral striatal dopamine D2 gene regulation in the offspring.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Prenatal cannabis exposure has been linked to addiction vulnerability, but the neurobiology underlying this risk is unknown.

Methods

Striatal dopamine and opioid-related genes were studied in human fetal subjects exposed to cannabis (as well as cigarettes and alcohol). Cannabis-related gene disturbances observed in the human fetus were subsequently characterized with an animal model of prenatal Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) (.15 mg/kg) exposure.

Results

Prenatal cannabis exposure decreased dopamine receptor D2 (DRD2) messenger RNA expression in the human ventral striatum (nucleus accumbens [NAc]), a key brain reward region. No significant alterations were observed for the other genes in cannabis-exposed subjects. Maternal cigarette use was associated with

SUBMITTER: DiNieri JA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3186868 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature