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THE EFFECT OF δ 9 ‐TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL (δ 9 ‐THC) ON THE TURNOVER RATE OF BRAIN SEROTONIN OF THE RAT
Author(s) -
Taylor D. A.,
Fennessy M. R.
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
clinical and experimental pharmacology and physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 103
eISSN - 1440-1681
pISSN - 0305-1870
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1681.1979.tb01254.x
Subject(s) - serotonin , pargyline , 5 hydroxyindoleacetic acid , chemistry , delta 9 tetrahydrocannabinol , endocrinology , medicine , probenecid , quipazine , tryptophan , turnover , serotonergic , cannabinoid , δ9 tetrahydrocannabinol , biology , biochemistry , amino acid , receptor , management , economics
Summary 1. One isotopic and three non‐isotopic methods were used to determine the effect of an acute intravenous dose of Δ 9 ‐tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ 9 ‐THC, 2 mg/kg) on the rat brain turnover rate of serotonin. 2. In control animals the turnover rate of serotonin was about 2 nmol/g per h. This rate was not altered by Δ 9 ‐THC when it was calculated from the rise of 5‐hydroxyindoleacetic acid following probenecid or from the rise of serotonin following pargyline. 3. Δ 9 ‐THC did not alter the serotonin turnover rate when it was calculated from the conversion of 3 H‐tryptophan to 3 H‐serotonin. 4. The serotonin turnover rate was significantly increased by Δ 9 ‐THC when the rate was calculated from the decline of 5‐hydroxyindoleacetic acid following pargyline. 5. These results suggest that Δ 9 ‐THC does not alter the turnover of rat brain serotonin. The previously reported Δ 9 ‐THC‐induced changes in body temperature and increased brain levels of 5‐hydroxyindoleacetic acid may be mediated by some other mechanism such as interference by Δ 9 ‐THC of the vesicular binding of serotonin.