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PRECLINICAL STUDY: Effect of cannabinoids on platelet serotonin uptake
Author(s) -
Velenovská Marie,
Fišar Zdeněk
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
addiction biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.445
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1369-1600
pISSN - 1355-6215
DOI - 10.1111/j.1369-1600.2007.00065.x
Subject(s) - serotonin , anandamide , serotonin transporter , serotonergic , cannabinoid , cannabinoid receptor , pharmacology , microviscosity , endocrinology , medicine , endocannabinoid system , chemistry , 5 ht receptor , agonist , receptor , biochemistry , membrane
Serotonin is involved in many of the same processes affected by cannabinoids; therefore, we investigated in vitro and in vivo effects of these drugs on the function of serotonin transporter. The effect of Δ 9 ‐tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ 9 ‐THC), endocannabinoid anandamide and synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonist WIN 55,212‐2 on platelet serotonin uptake and membrane microviscosity was examined in 19 marijuana smokers and 20 controls. (1) Serotonin uptake was inhibited at higher doses of Δ 9 ‐THC ( IC 50 = 139 µmol/l), anandamide ( IC 50 = 201 µmol/l) or WIN 55,212‐2 ( IC 50 = 17.4 µmol/l); the inhibition was found non‐competitive. Δ 9 ‐THC, anandamide and WIN 55,212‐2 produced different effects on the membrane microviscosity. (2) Maximal velocity of platelet serotonin uptake was significantly increased in a group of chronic marijuana smokers suffering impairment of cognitive functions when compared with controls. Opposite effect of marijuana smoking on the serotonin uptake efficiency was observed in males beside females. In summary, this study provides evidence that (1) Activity of serotonin transporter is acutely affected by cannabinoids at relatively high drug concentrations; this effect is indirect and can be partially accounted for the changes in the membrane microviscosity. (2) Increase of maximal velocity of the serotonin uptake could be understood as adaptation change in the serotonergic system induced by chronic cannabis use. A hypothesis was supported that lowered serotonin uptake may reflect a gender‐related differences in effects of psychoactive cannabinoids.