A study of the mechanism of transport of delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol in the rat submaxillary gland in vitro.
In vitro studies on rat submaxillary gland slices with 3H-delta9-THC (3.6 X 10(-6)M) showed that this drug was transported into and accumulated by salivary tissue. Approximately 50% of the delta9-THC was firmly bound in or on the tissue. The uptake of 3H-delta9-THC was unchanged from control conditions (pH 7.4, 37 degrees C, 100% oxygen, 3.2 X 10(-6)M) when the metabolic inhibitors, 2,4-dinitrophenol (10(-3)M) and cyanide (10(-3)M) were used or when oxygen was replaced by nitrogen. The efflux of 3H-delta9-THC from salivary gland slices increased following addition of an excess of unlabeled drug. These data suggest a passive transport process for the movement of delta9-THC into salivary tissue with a possible saturable binding site operating on or in the interior of the salivary cell.
D000818:Animals; D003486:Cyanides / Q000494:pharmacology; D004140:Dinitrophenols / Q000494:pharmacology; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000378:metabolism*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000494:pharmacology; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D013363:Submandibular Gland / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors
D003486:Cyanides; D004140:Dinitrophenols; D013759:Dronabinol; D009584:Nitrogen