Intravenous self-administration of delta-9-THC in adolescent rats produces long-lasting alterations in behavior and receptor protein expression

Abstract Rationale: Initial exposure to cannabinoids, including Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), often occurs during adolescence. Considerable neurodevelopmental alterations occur throughout adolescence, and the environmental insult posed by exogenous cannabinoid exposure may alter natural developmental trajectories. Multiple studies suggest that long-lasting deficits in cognitive function occur as a result of adolescent cannabis use, but considerable variability exists in the magnitude of these effects. Objectives: We sought to establish a novel procedure for achieving intravenous THC self-administration in adolescent rats in order to determine