Acute effect of Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol on neuromuscular transmission and locomotive behaviors in larval zebrafish

Abstract

Acute exposure to THC alters motor neuron-muscle communication and motor behaviors in developing zebrafish. Our neurophysiology data indicated that the properties of spontaneous synaptic activity at neuromuscular junctions, such as decay component of acetylcholine receptors and frequency of synaptic events, were affected by a 30-min exposure to THC. Hyperactivity and reduced responsiveness to the sound stimulus were also observed in the THC-treated larvae. Exposure to THC during early developing stages may induce motor dysfunction.