Filippo Drago

2 papers in the library · 23 citations · publishing 2021-2023

Papers

The Effects of Peripubertal THC Exposure in Neurodevelopmental Rat Models of Psychopathology

International Journal of Molecular Sciences February 15, 2023 Martina di Bartolomeo, Tibor Stark, Serena di Martino et al. 23 citations

Rats exposed to the toxin methylazoxymethanol acetate (MAM) before birth or to THC shortly after birth showed adult behaviors resembling schizophrenia, such as social withdrawal and memory problems, along with increased expression of cannabinoid and dopamine receptor genes in the prefrontal cortex linked to DNA methylation changes. Giving THC during adolescence impaired social behavior in otherwise healthy rats but did not worsen the schizophrenia-like traits in rats already exposed to THC after birth. In rats exposed to MAM before birth, adolescent THC paradoxically reversed their memory deficit by altering dopamine receptor gene expression. The effects of adolescent THC exposure appear to depend on individual differences in dopamine signaling.

DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043907 Dopaminergic Schizophrenia object-oriented programming Prefrontal cortex Cannabinoid +11

Phytocannabinoids and schizophrenia: Focus on adolescence as a critical window of enhanced vulnerability and opportunity for treatment.

Pharmacological research December 1, 2021 Tibor Stark, Serena Di Martino, Filippo Drago et al.

Adolescent cannabis use, especially of high-THC strains, is linked to long-term social and cognitive deficits in adulthood, as shown by both human and animal studies. Cannabis disrupts the endocannabinoid system, which normally regulates stress circuitry during brain development. Early intervention may prevent these adult deficits. Cannabidiol (CBD), the second most abundant compound in cannabis, is being studied as a potential treatment for neuropsychiatric disorders. This review examines evidence that adolescent THC exposure represents a critical window of vulnerability, possibly contributing to schizophrenia, and also considers adolescence as a window of opportunity for early CBD treatment to reduce risk of neurodevelopmental disorders. The review covers CBD's efficacy for positive, negative, and cognitive symptoms, its safety, and molecular targets.

DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2021.105938 Full text Cannabidiol THC Adolescence Animal model +2