Prenatal THC exposure drives sex-specific alterations in spatial memory and hippocampal excitatory/inhibitory balance in adolescent rats

The interaction between the main psychotropic ingredient of Cannabis, Δ⁹- tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), with the endogenous cannabinoid system (ECS) is a critical and underrated issue that deserves utmost attention. The ECS, indeed, contributes to the formation and regulation of excitatory and inhibitory (E/I) neuronal networks that in the hippocampus underly spatial memory. This study explored sex-specific consequences of prenatal exposure to THC in hippocampus-dependent memory and the underlying cellular and molecular contributors of synaptic plasticity and E/I homeostasis. Sprague Dawley dams were exposed to THC (2 mg/kg) or vehicle, from gestational day 5–20. The adolescent progeny of both sexes was tested for: spatial memory retrieval and flexibility in the Barnes Maze; mRNA expression of relevant players of hippocampal synaptic plasticity; density of cholecystokinin-positive basket cells (CCK+BCs) – a major subtype of hippocampal inhibitory interneurons; mRNA expression of the excitatory and inhibitory synaptic proteins neuroligins (Nlgns), as a proxy of synaptic efficiency. Our results show a sex-specific disruption in spatial memory retrieval and flexibility, a male-specific decrease in CCK+BCs density and increase in the expression of markers of neuroplasticity, and consistent changes in the expression of Nlgn-1 and 3 isoforms. Despite a delay in memory retrieval, flexibility of memory was spared in prenatally-THC-exposed female offspring as well as most of the markers of neuroplasticity; a sex-specific increase in CCK+BCs density, and a consistent expression of Nlgn-3 was observed. The current results highlight a major vulnerability to prenatal exposure to THC on memory processing in the male progeny, and sex-specific alterations in the E/I balance and synaptic plasticity.