Gestational THC exposure perturbates hippocampal mitochondrial respiration in the memory-impaired adolescent progeny: Is there a role for mitochondrial CB1 receptor? - 17/05/25
, Valentina Castelli b, Cesare D’Amico b, Francesca Vaccaro b, Giuseppe Tringali c, d, Maria Elisabetta Clementi e, Patrizia Bottoni f, Martin Kuchar g, h, Petr Palivec g, h, Olivia Engmann i, j, Anna Brancato a, 1, Carla Cannizzaro b, 1Abstract |
Mitochondria are central to cellular energy metabolism, contributing to synaptic transmission and plasticity. The mitochondrial membranes present the cannabinoid type-1 receptor (mito-CB1R), which has been functionally linked to neuronal energy supply and cognitive processing. Prenatal exposure to Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (pTHC) has been associated with cognitive impairments associated with molecular cellular and functional abnormalities in several brain regions, including the hippocampus. This study aims at assessing whether, besides the memory impairment, pTHC exposure may result in mitochondrial molecular and functional alterations in the hippocampus of the offspring. Moreover, the assessment of CB1R expression is also carried out as a proxy of CB1 signalling in pTHC-exposed offspring. THC (2 mg/Kg), or vehicle, was administered to the dams from gestational day (GD) 5 to GD20, and the offspring were tested for declarative memory using the Novel Object Recognition test in the L-maze. We also assessed: mitochondrial respiration by high-resolution respirometry; mitochondrial respiratory complex-I subunit NDUFS1 protein levels, and mito-CB1R expression by ELISA. Our results revealed: significant memory impairment in pTHC-exposed offspring; attenuated mitochondrial respiration in the hippocampus alongside a marked reduction in complex-I-subunit NDUFS1; a significant increase in mito-CB1R expression. This is the first evidence of pTHC exposure-induced impairment in memory processing in the offspring that suggests a functional link between an attenuation in mitochondrial bioenergetics and abnormal CB1R signalling in the hippocampus.
Le texte complet de cet article est disponible en PDF.Graphical Abstract |
Gestational exposure to THC leads to impaired hippocampus-dependent declarative memory in adolescent offspring, as assessed by the novel object recognition test (NORT). This impairment is associated with increased expression of plasma membrane and mitochondrial CB1 receptors in the hippocampus and reduced mitochondrial respiration, including decreased complex-I NDUFS1 subunit expression.
Gestational exposure to THC leads to impaired hippocampus-dependent declarative memory in adolescent offspring, as assessed by the novel object recognition test (NORT). This impairment is associated with increased expression of plasma membrane and mitochondrial CB1 receptors in the hippocampus and reduced mitochondrial respiration, including decreased complex-I NDUFS1 subunit expression.Le texte complet de cet article est disponible en PDF.
Highlights |
• | Gestational THC exposure impairs declarative memory in the adolescent rat offspring. |
• | Mitochondrial respiration is reduced in the hippocampi of the offspring. |
• | Complex-I subunit NDUFS1 protein levels are reduced in hippocampal mitochondria. |
• | Gestational THC exposure upregulates Hippocampal membrane and mito-CB1R levels. |
• | Altered (mito) CB1R signaling may cause gestational THC-induced cognitive deficits. |
Keywords : Prenatal THC, Declarative memory, CB1 receptor, Hippocampus, Mitochondria, Complex-I
Plan
Vol 187
Article 118144- juin 2025 Retour au numéroBienvenue sur EM-consulte, la référence des professionnels de santé.
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