Featured Publications
Highs and lows of cannabinoid-dopamine interactions: effects of genetic variability and pharmacological modulation of catechol-O-methyl transferase on the acute response to delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol in humans
Ranganathan M, De Aquino JP, Cortes-Briones JA, Radhakrishnan R, Pittman B, Bhakta S, D’Souza D. Highs and lows of cannabinoid-dopamine interactions: effects of genetic variability and pharmacological modulation of catechol-O-methyl transferase on the acute response to delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol in humans. Psychopharmacology 2019, 236: 3209-3219. PMID: 31187152, DOI: 10.1007/s00213-019-05273-5.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCOMT rs4680 polymorphismMemory deficitsCOMT genotypeVal/Val individualsRs4680 polymorphismSubjective effectsTest dayCatechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT) enzymePsychotomimetic effectsCognitive effectsCognitive dataCannabinoid-dopamine interactionsAcute responseHuman brainIntravenous THCPlacebo-controlled studyRole of dopaminergicCatechol-O-methyl transferaseDopaminergic signalingAcute pharmacological inhibitionDeficitsCannabinoid effectsDopaminergic toneHealthy subjectsDrug development efforts
2024
Sex differences in the acute effects of oral THC: a randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover human laboratory study
Mohammad Aghaei A, Urban Spillane L, Pittman B, Flynn L, De Aquino J, Bassir Nia A, Ranganathan M. Sex differences in the acute effects of oral THC: a randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover human laboratory study. Psychopharmacology 2024, 241: 2145-2155. PMID: 38832949, DOI: 10.1007/s00213-024-06625-6.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchRey Auditory Verbal Learning TestCannabis use disorderHuman laboratory studiesOral tetrahydrocannabinolPsychoactive effectsSex differencesAuditory Verbal Learning TestDissociative Symptoms ScalePsychotomimetic States InventoryExposure to cannabisVerbal Learning TestPlacebo-controlledIncreased cannabis useInvestigate sex differencesClinician-AdministeredVerbal learningPsychotomimetic effectsCannabinoid effectsLearning TestCannabis useTetrahydrocannabinol dosesEffects of sexUse disorderDose-related effectsIndividual vulnerability