Share

Dagga use adversely affects future generations

istock
Exposing adolescent rats to THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) – the primary psychoactive ingredient in marijuana – can lead to molecular and behavioural alterations in the next generation of offspring, even though progeny were not directly exposed to the drug, researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have found.

Adverse effects

Male offspring showed stronger motivation to self-administer heroin during their adulthood and molecular changes in the glutamatergic system, which is the most important excitatory pathway for neurotransmission in the brain.

Damage in the glutamate pathway, which regulates synaptic plasticity, has been linked to disturbances in goal-directed behaviour and habit formation.

"Our study emphasises that cannabis [marijuana] affects not just those exposed, but has adverse affects on future generations," said Yasmin Hurd, PhD, the study's senior author, and professor of psychiatry and neuroscience at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

 "Finding increased vulnerability to drug addiction and compulsive behaviour in generations not directly exposed is an important consideration for legislators considering legalising marijuana."

In the study, Dr Hurd and colleagues gave adolescent male rats 1.5 mg/kg of THC, similar to about one joint in human use.

Heroin infusion

None of the rats had been exposed to THC before, but their parents were exposed to THC as teens and then mated later in life. THC-exposed offspring worked harder to self-administer heroin by pressing a lever multiple times to get heroin infusion.

Although marijuana use and safety tends to be discussed in terms of its impact to the individual during the lifetime, few studies have addressed adverse effects in future generations. "What this opens up are many questions regarding the epigenetic mechanisms that mediate cross-generational brain effects," said Dr Hurd.

Future studies are now being explored to determine whether THC effects continue to be transmitted to even the subsequent grandchildren and great-grandchildren generations.

 Another important question relates to potential treatment interventions in order to reverse the cross-generational THC effects. Such insights could also have implications for novel treatment opportunities for related psychiatric illnesses.


Read more:

Marijuana use triggers psychosis

Marijuana not harmless to adolescents


We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE