Delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol enhances presynaptic dopamine efflux in medial prefrontal cortex.
Acute administration of 1.0-2.0 mg/kg delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta 9-THC) increased presynaptic dopamine (DA) efflux in the medial prefrontal cortex of rats, as measured by intracerebral microdialysis in awake, behaving rats. These data are congruent with suggestions that (1) marijuana's euphorigenic effects and abuse potential may be related to augmentation of presynaptic DA mechanisms, and (2) the medial prefrontal cortex may be an important site of action for drugs of abuse in general and for delta 9-THC in particular.
Chen
J
J
Division of Substance Abuse, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY 10461.
Paredes
W
W
Lowinson
J H
JH
Gardner
E L
EL
D015102:3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D003956:Dialysis; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006719:Homovanillic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D013569:Synapses / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
D015102:3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid; D013759:Dronabinol; D004298:Dopamine; D006719:Homovanillic Acid