Chronic administration of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol to pregnant rats: studies of pup behavior and placental transfer.

Tritiated delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol was administered orally to female rats throughout pregnancy at a dose level of 2 mg/kg/day. Chemical analysis of rat pup tissues indicated an average drug level near 20 ng/gm was attained via placental transfer. Although there was no teratogenicity, the pups showed both transient and relatively permanent behavioral effects. A deficit in acquisition of a passive avoidance response at 21 days of age was observed. This effect was not apparent during retraining and testing at 90 days of age. Rats whose dams had received the drug forced control animals to back out of a push tube in 67% of the tests at 21 days of age and 94% of the tests at 90 days of age.