Abstract
The acute and subchronic effects of hashish extract (20mg Δ 9-THC/kg) on the behavior of male mice encountering a control partner was studied by ethological methods. A single administration of the extract resulted in general sedation, suppressing all the individual and social activities with the exception of some submissive elements. The locomotive and the overall activity of drugged males was drastically reduced and immobility occurred frequently. After four applications, tolerance to the sedative effects had developed and behavioral drug effects were recognizable. Drugged males showed an increase in nonsocial activities as well as in submissive behavior and flight, whereas social investigation was less frequent. Sexual and aggressive behavior was not significantly affected by the drug and immobility no longer occurred.
In spite of behavioral changes after a single or repeated drug treatment, drugged males became dominant in about half the experiments. The nest-building behavior of males was disturbed in the same way after one or four drug applications. Drugged males generally refrained from carrying and working up the nesting material.
The acute behavioral effects of hashish extract are compared to those described in previous papers and the difference between acute and subchronic drug effects is discussed.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Babor TF, Mendelson JH, Kühnle J (1976) Marihuana and human physical activity. Psychopharmacology 50:11–21
Biener K (1972) Sozial- und präventivmedizinische Studien zum Drogenproblem der Jugend. Vierteljahresschr Naturforsch Ges Zürich 117:169–174
Chance MRA, Silverman AP (1964) The structure of social behaviour and drug action. Ciba Foundation Symposium on Animal Behaviour and Drug Action, Churchill, London: p 65
Cutler MG, Mackintosh JH (1975) Effects of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol on social behaviour in the laboratory mouse and rat. Psychopharmacologia 44:287–289
Cutler MG, Mackintosh JH, Chance MRA (1975a) Effects of cannabis resin on social behaviour in the laboratory mouse. Psychopharmacologia 41:271–276
Cutler MG, Mackintosh JH, Chance MRA (1975b) Behavioural changes in laboratory mice during cannabis feeding and withdrawal. Psychopharmacologia 44:173–177
Cutler MG, Mackintosh JH, Chance MRA (1975c) Cannabis resin and sexual behaviour in the laboratory mouse. Psychopharmacologia 45:129–131
Desjardins C, Maruniak JA, Bronson FH (1973) Social rank in house mice: Differentiation revealed by ultraviolet visualization of urinary marking patterns. Science 182:939–941
Dixon AK, Mackintosh JH (1976) Olfactory mechanisms affording protection from attack to juvenile mice (Mus musculus L.). Z Tierpsychol 41:225–234
Dorr M, Steinberg H (1976) Effects of Δ 9-THC on social behaviour in mice. Comparison between two vehicles. Psychopharmacology 47:87–91
Eibl-Eibesfeldt I (1950) Beiträge zur Biologie der Haus- und Ährenmaus nebst einigen Beobachtungen an anderen Nagern. Z Tierpsychol 7:558–587
Ely DL, Henry JP, Jarosz CJ (1975) Effects of marihuana (Δ 9-THC) on behavior patterns and social roles in colonies of CBA mice. Behav Biol 13:263–276
Frischknecht H-R, Sieber B, Waser PG (1980) Behavioral effects of hashish in mice II. Nursing behavior and development of the sucklings. Psychopharmacology 70:155–161
Grant EC, Mackintosh JH (1963) A comparison of the social postures of some common laboratory rodents. Behaviour 21:246–253
Jones RT (1972) The marihuana induced “social high” — a note of caution regarding specificity. Psychopharmacol Bull 8:13–16
Kielholz P, Ladewig D (1971) Epidemiologische, pharmakologische und therapeutische Aspekte des Amphetamin- und Halluzinogenabusus. Pharmakopsychiatr 4:53–58
Lemberger L, Rubin A (1978) Cannabis: The role of metabolism in the development of tolerance. Drug Metab Rev 8:59–68
Meyer RE (1978) Behavioural pharmacology of marihuana. In: Lipton MA, diMascio A, Killam KF (eds) Psychopharmacology — A generation of progress. Raven Press, New York, p 1639
Moschovakis A, Liakopoulos D, Armaganidis A, Kapasambelis V (1978) Cannabis interferes with nest-building behaviour in mice. Psychopharmacology 58:181–183
Reimer JD, Petras ML (1967) Breeding structure of the house mouse (Mus musculus) in a population cage. J Mammal 48:88–99
Rinder JD (1978) The effects of marihuana: A social psychological interpretation. Psychiatry 14:202–206
Siegel RK, Poole J (1969) Psychedelic-induced social behavior in mice: A preliminary report. Psychol Rep 25:704–706
Silverman AP (1965) Ethological and statistical analysis of drug effects on the social behaviour of laboratory rats. Br J Pharmacol 24:579–590
Straight R, Wayne AW, Lewis EG, Beck EC (1973) Marihuana extraction and purification for oral administration of known amounts of (Δ 9-THC. Biochem Med 8:341–344
Uhrich J (1938) The social hierarchy in albino mice. J comp Physiol Psychol 25:373–413
Weil AT, Zinberg NE, Nelsen JM (1968) Clinical and psychological effects of marihuana in man. Science 162:1234–1242
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sieber, B., Frischknecht, HR. & Waser, P.G. Behavioral effects of hashish in mice. Psychopharmacology 70, 149–154 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00435306
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00435306