Sex, THC, and hormones: Effects on density and sensitivity of CB1 cannabinoid receptors in rats

Historically, most preclinical pharmacological research has been conducted in male animals without regard for potential sex-based variance in drug effects (Beery and Zucker, 2011). To address this sex imbalance in basic research, in 2016 the National Institutes of Health mandated consideration of sex as a biological variable in the review of grant proposals using animal models (Clayton and Collins, 2014). Consequently, research including animals of both sexes is increasing rapidly, highlighting the need to establish sex differences or the lack thereof between male and female rats in their basal, untreated state.
Source: Drug and Alcohol Dependence - Category: Addiction Authors: Tags: Full length article Source Type: research