1. Chronic exposure to delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol fails to irreversibly alter brain cannabinoid receptors.
- Author
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Westlake TM, Howlett AC, Ali SF, Paule MG, Scallet AC, and Slikker W Jr
- Subjects
- Analgesics metabolism, Animals, Brain drug effects, Cannabinoids metabolism, Cerebellum metabolism, Cerebral Cortex metabolism, Cyclohexanols metabolism, Hippocampus metabolism, Kinetics, Macaca mulatta, Male, Organ Specificity, Phenanthridines metabolism, Rats, Rats, Inbred Strains, Receptors, Cannabinoid, Receptors, Drug drug effects, Brain metabolism, Dronabinol pharmacology, Receptors, Drug metabolism
- Abstract
The effects of chronic delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta 9-THC) and marijuana administration on the properties of brain cannabinoid receptor populations of the rat and monkey, respectively, were examined in this study. It was determined that the properties of the cannabinoid receptors in the striatum, cerebral cortex, cerebellum, hippocampus, and brainstem/spinal cord of the rat do not appear to be irreversibly altered by chronic exposure to delta 9-THC. Similarly, the cannabinoid receptors in the caudate, prefrontal cortex, and cerebellum of the monkey do not appear to be irreversibly altered by chronic exposure to marijuana smoke.
- Published
- 1991
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