Sex Differences in the Neural and Behavioral Effects of Acute High-Dose Edible Cannabis Consumption in Rats.

The consumption of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)- or cannabis-containing edibles has increased in recent years; however, the behavioral and neural circuit effects of such consumption remain unknown, especially in the context of ingestion of higher doses resulting in cannabis intoxication. We examined the neural and behavioral effects of acute high-dose edible cannabis consumption (AHDECC). Sprague-Dawley rats (six males, seven females) were implanted with electrodes in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), dorsal hippocampus (dHipp), cingulate cortex (Cg), and nucleus accumbens (NAc). Rats were provided access to a mixture of Nutella (6 g/kg) and THC-containing cannabis oil (20 mg/kg) for 10 minutes, during which they voluntarily consumed all of the provided Nutella and THC mixture. Cannabis tetrad and neural oscillations were examined 2, 4, 8, and 24 hours after exposure. In another cohort (16 males, 15 females), we examined the effects of AHDECC on learning and prepulse inhibition and serum and brain THC and 11-hydroxy-THC concentrations. AHDECC resulted in higher brain and serum THC and 11-hydroxy-THC levels in female rats over 24 hours. AHDECC also produced: 1) Cg, dHipp, and NAc gamma power suppression, with the suppression being greater in female rats, in a time-dependent manner; 2) hypolocomotion, hypothermia, and antinociception in a time-dependent manner; and 3) learning and prepulse inhibition impairments. Additionally, most neural activity and behavior changes appear 2 hours after ingestion, suggesting that interventions around this time might be effective in reversing/reducing the effects of AHDECC. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: The effects of high-dose edible cannabis on behavior and neural circuitry are poorly understood. We found that the effects of acute high-dose edible cannabis consumption (AHDECC), which include decreased gamma power, hypothermia, hypolocomotion, analgesia, and learning and information processing impairments, are time and sex dependent. Moreover, these effects begin 2 hours after AHDECC and last for at least 24 hours, suggesting that treatments should target this time window in order to be effective.

The potential for Ghana to become a leader in the African hemp industry.

BACKGROUND: Global interest in hemp cultivation and utilization is on the rise, presenting both challenges and opportunities for African countries. This article focuses on Ghana's potential to establish a thriving hemp sector, considering its favorable climate, abundant agricultural resources, and existing policies and programs that support the growth and advancement of the agricultural sector, as well as agro-processing and value addition. MAIN BODY: Ghana's recent decriminalization of cannabis with low tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) levels marks a progressive step, unlocking opportunities for research, commercial production, and innovation in hemp-related sectors. This regulatory change paves the way for the development of textiles, construction materials, and wellness products derived from hemp. However, the African hemp industry faces various simultaneous challenges, including pest management, absence of regulatory frameworks, limited research, inadequate infrastructure, and lack of access to finance and investment capital for small-scale farmers. Fortunately, several countries that have legalized hemp cultivation and processing have found innovative solutions to these challenges through the use of integrated pest management strategies, establishing collaborations with international standards organizations, implementing public-private partnerships, offering tax incentives for investors, and providing low-interest loans and credit facilities for small-scale farmers. Ghana can draw inspiration from these successful approaches and adapt them to its own context to foster the growth of the hemp industry. CONCLUSION: By capitalizing on its strengths and addressing the challenges it is likely to face while developing its hemp industry, Ghana can position itself as a leader in the African hemp industry. This position of leadership would not only drive economic growth, but also create job opportunities and foster sustainable development through responsible hemp cultivation and utilization.

A Simple, Lightweight, and Low-Cost Customizable Multielectrode Array for Local Field Potential Recordings.

Local field potential (LFP) recording is a valuable method for assessing brain systems communication. Multiple methods have been developed to collect LFP data to study the rhythmic activity of the brain. These methods range from the use of single or bundled metal electrodes to electrode arrays that can target multiple brain regions. Although these electrodes are efficient in collecting LFP activity, they can be expensive, difficult to build, and less adaptable to different applications, which may include targeting multiple brain regions simultaneously. Here, the building process for a 16-channel customizable multielectrode array (CMEA) that can be used to collect LFP data from different brain regions simultaneously in rats is described. These CMEA electrode arrays are lightweight (<1 g), take little time to build (<1 h), and are affordable ($15 Canadian). The CMEA can also be modified to record single-unit and multiunit activity in addition to LFP activity using both wired and wireless neural data acquisition systems. Moreover, these CMEAs can be used to explore neural activity (LFP and single-unit/multiunit activity) in preliminary studies, before purchasing more expensive electrodes for targeted studies. Together, these characteristics make the described CMEA a competitive alternative to the commercially available multielectrode arrays for its simplicity, low cost, and efficiency in collecting LFP data in freely behaving animals.

Ghana's preparedness to exploit the medicinal value of industrial hemp.

BACKGROUND: Interest in industrial hemp is increasing steadily, as can be seen by the growing number of countries that have either decriminalized industrial hemp or are contemplating its decriminalization. In line with this trend, Ghana recently decriminalized the cultivation of industrial hemp (the cannabis variety with low Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and high cannabidiol (CBD) content), resulting in the need for research into its benefits to Ghanaians. This article examines cannabis (including industrial hemp) production, facilities for industrial hemp exploitation, and the potential benefits of industrial hemp in Ghana. MAIN BODY: Indigenous cannabis strains in Ghana have high THC to CBD ratios suggesting the need for the government to purchase foreign hemp seeds, considering that the alternative will require significant research into decreasing the THC to CBD ratio of indigenous cannabis strains. Furthermore, there are several facilities within the country that could be leveraged for the production of medicinal hemp-based drugs, as well as the existence of a number of possible regulatory bodies in the country, suggesting the need for less capital. Research has also shown the potential for treatment of some medical conditions prevalent among Ghanaians using medicinal hemp-based products. These reasons suggest that the most feasible option may be for the government to invest in medicinal hemp. CONCLUSION: Considering the challenges associated with the development of other hemp-based products, the availability of resources in the country for exploitation of medicinal hemp, and the potential benefits of hemp-based drugs to Ghanaians, investing in medicinal hemp may be the best option for the government of Ghana.

Neuronal activities during palatable food consumption in the reward system of binge-like eating female rats.

Binge eating disorder (BED), characterized by bingeing episodes and compulsivity, is the most prevalent eating disorder; however, little is known about its neurobiological underpinnings. In humans, BED is associated with desensitization of the reward system, specifically, the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), nucleus accumbens (Acb), and ventral tegmental area (VTA). Additionally, BED patients feel relieved during bingeing, suggesting that bingeing helps to decrease the negative emotions they were feeling prior to the binge episode. However, the mechanisms that underlie this feeling of relief in BED patients have not been well investigated. To investigate neuronal activity before and during palatable food consumption in BED, we performed in vivo electrophysiological recordings in a binge-like eating rat model (bingeing, n = 12 and non-bingeing, n = 14) and analyzed the firing rate of neurons in the mPFC, Acb, and VTA before and during access to sucrose solution. We also investigated changes in the firing rate of neurons in these regions during and between active bingeing, which may underlie the feeling of relief in BED patients. We found that neuronal firing rates of mPFC and VTA neurons in bingeing rats were lower than those in non-bingeing rats before and during sucrose consumption. Palatable food consumption increased neuronal firing rates during and between active bingeing in bingeing rats. Our results suggest a desynchronization in the activity of reward system regions, specifically in the mPFC, in bingeing rats, which may also contribute to BED. These results are consistent with those of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies that reported decreased activity in the reward system in BED patients. We propose that increased neuronal activity in the mPFC, Acb, or VTA produces an antidepressant effect in rats, which may underlie the sense of relief patients express during bingeing episodes.

Differential Expression of DeltaFosB in Reward Processing Regions Between Binge Eating Prone and Resistant Female Rats.

Binge eating (BE) is characterized by the consumption of large amounts of palatable food in a discrete period and compulsivity. Even though BE is a common symptom in bulimia nervosa (BN), binge eating disorder (BED), and some cases of other specified feeding or eating disorders, little is known about its pathophysiology. We aimed to identify brain regions and neuron subtypes implicated in the development of binge-like eating in a female rat model. We separated rats into binge eating prone (BEP) and binge eating resistant (BER) phenotypes based on the amount of sucrose they consumed following foot-shock stress. We quantified deltaFosB (ΔFosB) expression, a stably expressed Fos family member, in different brain regions involved in reward, taste, or stress processing, to assess their involvement in the development of the phenotype. The number of ΔFosB-expressing neurons was: (1) higher in BEP than BER rats in reward processing areas [medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), nucleus accumbens (Acb), and ventral tegmental area (VTA)]; (2) similar in taste processing areas [insular cortex, IC and parabrachial nucleus (PBN)]; and (3) higher in the paraventricular nucleus of BEP than BER rats, but not different in the locus coeruleus (LC), which are stress processing structures. To study subtypes of ΔFosB-expressing neurons in the reward system, we performed in situ hybridization for glutamate decarboxylase 65 and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) mRNA after ΔFosB immunohistochemistry. In the mPFC and Acb, the proportions of γ-aminobutyric acidergic (GABAergic) and non-GABAergic ΔFosB-expressing neurons were similar in BER and BEP rats. In the VTA, while the proportion of dopaminergic ΔFosB-expressing neurons was similar in both phenotypes, the proportion of GABAergic ΔFosB-expressing neurons was higher in BER than BEP rats. Our results suggest that reward processing brain regions, particularly the VTA, are important for the development of binge-like eating.