Depression of growth hormone and cortisol response to insulin-induced hypoglycemia after prolonged oral delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol administration in man.
Six hospitalized volunteer male subjects were given insulin, 0.15 U/kg, before and after 14 days of administration of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) at a dose of 210 mg/day. A diminished maximal serum human growth hormone (GH) increase followed the prolonged THC ingestion. The mean maximal GH response was: 52.6 ng/ml +/- 8.7 (+/-SE) before THC and 18.8 ng/ml +/- 6.7 (+/-SE) during THC, P less than 0.01; corresponding cortisol responses were 20.1 mug/dl +/- 3.0 before THC and 10.0 mug/dl +/- 1.1 during THC, P less than 0.05. The data suggest suppression of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis after prolonged high dose THC use. This is consistent with other reported endocrine effects of marijuana in man.
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D002188:Cannabis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000139:chemically induced; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000187:drug effects*; D007328:Insulin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D013759:Dronabinol; D013006:Growth Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone