title: Effect of delta 9-THC on brain and plasma catecholamine levels as measured by HPLC.
abstract: The effects of chronic administration of delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta 9-THC) on the plasma and brain catecholamine (CA) levels were measured using high performance liquid chromatography-electrochemical detection (LC-EC) system. Intact male rats were injected daily with vehicle (50 microliter oil) or with delta 9-THC (3 mg/kg body wt) over a period of 25 days. Trunk plasma and tissue from preoptic area (POA) and mediobasal hypothalamus (MBH) were collected and catecholamine levels were detected by LC-EC system coupled to an electronic integrator. Alumina extract of tissue and plasma samples, spiked with the internal standard (dihydroxybenzylamine), were injected into the LC-EC system; the CA were chromatographed and eluted within 12 minutes using sodium phosphate buffer as the mobile phase. delta 9-THC treatment resulted in a significant decrease in plasma and MBH levels of norepinephrine (NE), epinephrine (E), POA levels of NE; and significant increases in MBH levels of dopamine (DA) and dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC). Our study indicates for the first time that delta 9-THC treatment significantly alters not only the POA and MBH CA levels, but also the plasma CA levels.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Borysenko
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Kumar
mesh_terms: D015102:3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000097:blood*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004298:Dopamine / Q000097:blood; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000097:blood; D007033:Hypothalamus, Middle / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000097:blood; D011301:Preoptic Area / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
chemical_list: D002395:Catecholamines; D015102:3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid; D013759:Dronabinol; D004298:Dopamine; D009638:Norepinephrine; D004837:Epinephrine