title: Suppression of male copulatory behavior by delta 9-THC is not dependent on changes in plasma testosterone or hypothalamic dopamine or serotonin content.
abstract: Castrated B6D2 F1 male mice were tested for their sexual responses after being administered 0.5 mg/kg delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) 50 mg/kg THC or oil. The animals that received 50 mg/kg, but not 0.5 mg/kg THC, showed deficits in copulatory behavior. Another group of B6D2 F1 castrates were given testosterone propionate (TP) replacement therapy plus 50 mg/kg THC or oil. Similarly, those mice which received 50 mg/kg THC showed behavioral deficits. Lastly, a group of intact B6D2 F1 males were treated with 0.5 mg/kg THC, 50 mg/kg THC or oil, were bled and decapitated, and their brains removed 10 min or 4 hr after treatment. Plasma testosterone (T) and hypothalamic dopamine (DA) levels were unaltered 4 hr after treatment with 50 mg/kg THC, but the concentration of serotonin (5-HT) in their hypothalami was elevated. This effect of THC on hypothalamic 5-HT concentration was not apparent in a larger group of randomly bred animals that were tested. These data strongly suggest that THC's behavioral effects are not mediated by variations in T levels, or by changes in hypothalamic 5-HT or DA concentrations.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Shrenker
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bartke
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002369:Castration; D003307:Copulation; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000378:metabolism*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D012701:Serotonin; D013739:Testosterone; D013759:Dronabinol; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D004298:Dopamine