title: Stereospecific effects of (-)- and (+)-7-hydroxy-delta-6-tetrahydrocannabinol-dimethylheptyl on the immune system of mice.
abstract: The effects of the (+) and (-) cannabinoid enantiomers 7-hydroxy-delta-6-tetra-hydrocannabinol-dimethylheptyl [(-)-7-OH-delta-6-THC-DMH (HU-210) and (+)-7-OH-delta-6-THC-DMH (HU-211)] on the inductive and productive phases of the primary humoral immune response to sheep red blood cell immunization were investigated in mice. Animals treated with (-)-7-OH-delta-6-THC-DMH (0.01, 0.05, 0.1 and 0.5 mg/kg) exhibited a dose-dependent suppression of both phases of the primary humoral immune response in the hemolytic plaque assay, the hemagglutination titer and in the ratio of the spleen weight to final body weight. Mice treated with (+)-7-OH-delta-6-THC-DMH (0.01, 0.05, 0.01, 0.5 and 1.0 mg/kg) did not exhibit dose-dependent immune suppression. However, the (+) enantiomer reduced the number of plaque-forming cells in the hemolytic plaque assay during the inductive phase. Mice treated with a combination of (-) and (+) enantiomers, each at 0.01 mg/kg, exhibited no impairment in ability to undergo a primary humoral immune response (inductive phase).
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, University of Toronto, Ont., Canada.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Titishov
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mechoulam
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Zimmerman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004357:Drug Synergism; D006384:Hemagglutination / Q000187:drug effects; D006386:Hemagglutination Tests; D006461:Hemolysis / Q000187:drug effects; D006462:Hemolytic Plaque Technique; D007107:Immune System / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D013154:Spleen / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D013237:Stereoisomerism; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D013759:Dronabinol; C062018:HU 211