INTRODUCTION: During the past few years it has become clear that both ethanol and cannabinoids affect adolescents and adults differently. For example, both Δ9‑tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and ethanol disrupt spatial learning more potently in adolescents than adults. The fact that both ethanol and THC impair learning and learning-related hippocampal function more potently in adolescents than in adults is obviously of great importance. But, particularly among teens, ethanol and marijuana are often used in combination. Although there have been a number of studies of the combined effects of ethanol and THC, developmental comparisons are conspicuously absent. This is of particular concern given that early misuse of these substances has been linked to an increased likelihood of later substance use and related behavioral problems. AIM(S): The aim of our study was to reveal whether ethanol and/or THC induced greater spatial memory impairment in adolescent than adult male rats using the Barnes maze test when compared to these drugs alone. METHOD(S): Adolescent rats (postnatal day 30) were submitted into four groups, each of them received injection of: 0.9% NaCl, 1.5 g/kg ethanol, 1.0 mg/kg THC or 1.5 g/kg ethanol+1.0 mg/kg THC on 30, 33, 36 and 39 postnatal day. 24 hours after last injection, half of treated animals from each group were tested in the Barnes maze test. The remaining animals were tested at on postnatal day 70. RESULTS: The results show that there was an age effect on spatial memory in Barnes maze test after the ethanol+THC challenge. Specifically, adolescent animals showed more significant deficits in the short‑time spatial memory (probe trial) or cognitive flexibility (reversal learning) than adults. CONCLUSIONS: These novel findings clearly indicate that further understanding of this age–drug interaction is crucial to elucidating the influence that adolescent ethanol+THC use may have on repeated drug use and abuse later in life. FINANCIAL SUPPORT: This work was supported by the Statutory Funds of the Medical University of Lublin (DS 22/16).
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