Teen Cannabis Use May Increase Adult Psychosis Risk
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Exposure of adolescents to delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive component in cannabis, may lead to disturbances in neuronal structure and gene expression in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) in adulthood, new research suggests. Using cell type– and layer-specific high-resolution microscopy, dissection aided by laser capture, and next-generation RNA sequencing, investigators examined the impact of THC on the neurodevelopment of exposed adolescent rats through a comparison with control rats. They found that adolescent THC exposure reduced the branching of prefrontal cortical neurons and the number of spines, which are essential for cellular communication.
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@rohini Cannabis is widely used by adolescents, which is concerning because exposure to exogenous cannabinoids is linked to changes in adult neurobiology and behavior relevant to psychiatric disease, specifically psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia