Adrenocortical changes in rats during acute and chronic administration of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol.
Acute intraperitoneal administration of delta-9-THC (at doses of 10 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg) to adult male albino rats showed characteristic stimulating effect on adrenocortical tissues with marked depletion of ascorbic acid, cholesterol containing neutral lipids and significant increase in the delta5-3 beta -hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activities in the zona fasciculata and zona reticularis regions. Adrenal weights and the histometric measurements of the adrenocortical areas showed no significant changes. Chronic intraperitoneal administration of delta-9-THC (at doses of 10 mg/kg per day for 15 days) produced marked accumulation of cholesterol containing neutral lipids, with increase in ascorbic acid and delta5-3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase activities in the fasciculata-reticularis regions. Adrenal weights and histometric measurements revealed marked hypertrophy of the adrenal glands.
D000302:Adrenal Cortex / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D002188:Cannabis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005954:Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006913:Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000378:metabolism; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats
D013759:Dronabinol; D006913:Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; D005954:Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase; D001205:Ascorbic Acid