Effects of maternal voluntary cannabis consumption on high fat diet-induced emotional alterations and gut microbiota in adult offspring

Effects of maternal voluntary cannabis consumption on high fat diet-induced emotional alterations and gut microbiota in adult offspring | Authorea try { document.documentElement.classList.add('js'); } catch (e) { } var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'G-8VDV14Y67G']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); Skip to main content Preprints Collections Wiley Open Research IET Open Research Ecological Society of Japan All Collections About About Authorea FAQs Contact Us Quick Search anywhere Search for preprint articles, keywords, etc. Search Search ADVANCED SEARCH SCROLL This is a preprint and has not been peer reviewed. Data may be preliminary. 17 March 2026 V1 Latest version Share on Effects of maternal voluntary cannabis consumption on high fat diet-induced emotional alterations and gut microbiota in adult offspring Authors : Nada Sallam , Weilan Wang , Drew Neyens , Colleen Peterson , Raylene A. Reimer , and Stephanie Borgland 0000-0001-7546-5687 [email protected] Authors Info & Affiliations https://doi.org/10.22541/au.177374787.70081276/v1 140 views 65 downloads Contents Abstract Supplementary Material Information & Authors Metrics & Citations View Options References Figures Tables Media Share Abstract Background and Purpose: Consumption of cannabis during pregnancy has increased, especially oral administration. Given that cannabis compounds readily cross the placenta, there could be unintended developmental consequences, especially when exposed to the modern obesogenic food environment. We explored the long-term effects of maternal voluntary cannabis consumption on adult offspring’s emotional behavioral and microbiota response to high fat diet (HFD) consumption. Experimental Approach: Pregnant mice voluntarily consumed cannabis extract equivalent to 5 mg/kg/day Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol from gestational day 1.5 until postnatal day (PD) 10. Male and female offspring (PD49) consumed a HFD or low-fat control diet (LFD) for 12 weeks. We measured a battery of emotional behavioral tasks (elevated plus maze, light dark box, open field test, social interaction), changes in gut microbiota in dams and offspring, and inhibitory synaptic transmission in the lateral orbitofrontal cortex (lOFC). Key Results: Pre- and perinatal cannabis exposure (PPCE) did not influence weight gain of offspring on a HFD. Male offspring receiving HFD had decreased risk-taking behaviours that were exacerbated by PPCE. HFD exposure and PPCE had opposing effects on locomotor activity in male mice. Female mice were protected from PPCE influence on emotional behaviour as well as HFD-induced synaptic depression in the lOFC. Changes in offspring microbiota were associated with PPCE-altered maternal-offspring microbial transmission, particularly from maternal fecal microbiota during late gestation. Conclusion and Implications: PPCE sex-dependently influences HFD-induced anxiety and the gut microbiota of offspring. This raises concerns about differential effects of those exposed to gestational cannabis in the modern food environment. Supplementary Material File (effects of maternal voluntary cannabis consumption on high fat diet_2026_march11.docx) Download 250.64 KB Information & Authors Information Version history V1 Version 1 17 March 2026 Copyright This work is licensed under a Non Exclusive No Reuse License. Authors Affiliations Nada Sallam Cairo University Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology View all articles by this author Weilan Wang University of Calgary Faculty of Kinesiology View all articles by this author Drew Neyens University of Calgary Department of Physiology and Pharmacology View all articles by this author Colleen Peterson University of Calgary Department of Physiology and Pharmacology View all articles by this author Raylene A. Reimer University of Calgary Faculty of Kinesiology View all articles by this author Stephanie Borgland 0000-0001-7546-5687 [email protected] University of Calgary Department of Physiology and Pharmacology View all articles by this author Metrics & Citations Metrics Article Usage 140 views 65 downloads .FvxKWukQNSOunydq8rnd { width: 100px; } Citations Download citation Nada Sallam, Weilan Wang, Drew Neyens, et al. Effects of maternal voluntary cannabis consumption on high fat diet-induced emotional alterations and gut microbiota in adult offspring. Authorea . 17 March 2026. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/au.177374787.70081276/v1 If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download. For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu . 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