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THE EFFECT OF Δ 9 ‐TETRA‐HYDROCANNABINOL ON BODY TEMPERATURE AND BRAIN AMINE CONCENTRATIONS IN THE RAT AT DIFFERENT AMBIENT TEMPERATURES
Author(s) -
FENNESSY M.R.,
TAYLOR D.A.
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
british journal of pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.432
H-Index - 211
eISSN - 1476-5381
pISSN - 0007-1188
DOI - 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1977.tb16748.x
Subject(s) - hypothermia , chemistry , dopamine , serotonin , amine gas treating , medicine , endocrinology , biochemistry , receptor , organic chemistry
1 Rats were injected intravenously with 2 mg/kg (–)‐ trans ‐Δ 9 ‐tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ 9 ‐THC) at ambient temperatures of 4°, 21°, 31° and 37°C. 2 The general behaviour exhibited by rats treated with Δ 9 ‐THC was similar at all four ambient temperatures. 3 Body temperatures were recorded continuously before and after drug administration. At 4° and 21°C, Δ 9 ‐THC caused hypothermia whereas no change in body temperature occurred at 31° and 37°C. 4 The concentrations in the whole brain of noradrenaline (NA), dopamine, 5‐hydroxytryptamine (5‐HT) and 5‐hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5‐HIAA) were determined spectrophotofluorimetrically 1 h after drug administration. At 4°C Δ 9 ‐THC caused an increase of 5‐HT, at 21°C an increase of 5‐HIAA, at 31°C an increase of 5‐HIAA and a decrease of NA, and at 37°C an increase of 5‐HT and 5‐HIAA. 5 At all ambient temperatures, Δ 9 ‐THC increased the brain levels of 5‐HT and/or 5‐HIAA. A correlation between the Δ 9 ‐THC‐induced hypothermic response and the possible alteration of brain 5‐HT metabolism cannot be excluded.