The effects of ?(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol ?(9)-THC) on the regional concentrations of spermidine in the rat brain.

Abstract

The effects of intravenous administration of ?(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (?(9)-THC, 2 mg/kg, i.v.) on the regional brain spermidine concentrations of the rat were examined. Thirty minutes after vehicle treatment, the spermidine concentrations were: for the medulla oblongata/pons, 68.2 +/- 7.7 ?g/g; the hypothalamus, 67.7 +/- 2.6 ?g/g; the midbrain, 59.1 +/- 4.4 ?g/g; the cerebellum, 47.3 +/- 5.9 ?g/g and for the cortex, 13.8 +/- 0.8 ?g/g. Thirty minutes after ?(9)-THC, these concentrations were reduced in the midbrain (47.0 +/- 8.0% of control, P < 0.0001) and cortex (69.4 +/- 7.4% of control, P < 0.009). The spermidine concentrations were not significantly altered in the medulla oblongata/pons (86.5 +/- 13.3%, P > 0.36), hypothalamus (107.2 +/- 11.8, P > 0.36) or cerebellum (89.0 +/- 14.4%, P < 0.48). These results suggest that spermidine within the midbrain and cortex may be involved in the expression of some of the actions of ?(9)-THC.