Abstract
When administered orally to mice, 100.0 mg/kg of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) produced an overall increase in avoidance performance. However, a lower dose, 50.0 mg/kg, demonstrated a slight but nonsignificant (p >.4) decrease in the avoidance performance of mice. In rats, following oral administration, THC produced an increase at 25.0 mg/kg and a decrease at 100.0 mg/kg in avoidance performance. On the other hand, 8.0 mg/kg i.p. of THC produced an increase in the mean number of shocks taken by rats in the one-trial conflict test. This increase was similar to the one observed for diazepam at 2.5 mg/kg. When evaluated with respect to neurotoxic activity as measured in the rotarod test, these data are suggestive of some “disinhibition” activity for THC.
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The THC was generously supplied through the courtesy of Monique Braude, PhD, of the Biomedical Research Branch, Division of Research, National Institute of Drug Abuse. The authors also gratefully acknowledge Hoffmann-La Roche, Inc., Nutley, New Jersey, for its generous supply of diazepam.
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Harrison, P.C., Sofia, R.D. & Ciofalo, V.B. Effects of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) on conditioned avoidance responding in mice and rats and the one-trial conflict test in rats. Bull. Psychon. Soc. 15, 207–210 (1980). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03334510
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03334510