HIV Transgenic Rats Demonstrate Impaired Sensorimotor Gating But Are Insensitive to Cannabinoid (Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol)-Induced Deficits.
The international journal of neuropsychopharmacology November 12, 2021 Benjamin Z Roberts, Arpi Minassian, Adam L Halberstadt et al.
People with HIV often develop cognitive problems linked to disrupted fronto-striatal brain circuits, which are also affected by cannabis. HIV transgenic rats, which model HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder, showed a significant prepulse inhibition deficit compared to healthy controls, mirroring the sensorimotor gating impairment seen in people with HIV. Acute treatment with THC (1 and 3 mg/kg) reduced prepulse inhibition in control rats but not in HIV transgenic rats, indicating a relative insensitivity to THC's disruptive effects on fronto-striatal function. Cannabidiol (1, 10, and 30 mg/kg) had only minor, genotype-independent effects on prepulse inhibition. This reduced sensitivity may help explain higher cannabis use rates among people with HIV.