NTP Toxicology and Carcinogenesis Studies of 1-Trans-Delta(9)-Tetrahydrocannabinol (CAS No. 1972-08-3) in F344 Rats and B6C3F1 Mice (Gavage Studies).
1-Trans-delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) was nominated by the National Cancer Institute to the NTP for study because it is the major psychoactive component of marijuana and a widely used Schedule I substance. Male and female F344/N rats and B6C3F1 mice received THC (97% pure) in corn oil by gavage for 13 weeks, 13 weeks with a 9-week recovery period, or 2 years. Genetic toxicology studies were conducted in Salmonella typhimurium, cultured Chinese hamster ovary cells, and mouse peripheral blood cells. 13-WEEK STUDY IN RATS: Groups of 10 male and 10 female rats received 0, 5, 15, 50, 150, or 500 mg THC/kg body weight in corn oil by gavage, 5 days per week for 13 weeks. Six male and six female rats receiving 500 mg/kg died before the end of the study. The final mean body weights and weight gains of all dosed groups of males and females, except 5 mg/kg females, were significantly lower than those of the controls. Feed consumption by dosed groups was similar to that by controls. Clinical findings observed during the study included lethargy, sensitivity to touch, convulsions, tremors, and aggressiveness. There were no clinical pathology differences considered to be directly related to the administration of THC. The absolute and relative uterus weights of 50, 150, and 500 mg/kg females were significantly lower than those of the controls. Treatment-related multifocal atrophy was observed in the testes of 150 and 500 mg/kg males; uterine and ovarian hypoplasia observed in 150 and 500 mg/kg females was also considered to be related to THC administration. Based on final mean body weights and mortality observed in the 13-week study, doses selected for the 2-year rat study were 12.5, 25, and 50 mg/kg. 13-WEEK STUDY IN MICE: Groups of 10 male and 10 female mice received 0, 5, 15, 50, 150, or 500 mg THC/kg body weight in corn oil by gavage, 5 days per week for 13 weeks. There were no treatment-related deaths. The final mean body weight and weight gain of 500 mg/kg males were significantly lower than those of the controls. Clinical findings included lethargy and aggressiveness, and both male and female mice in all dosed groups were easily startled. There were no absolute or relative organ weight differences, clinical pathology differences, or microscopic changes observed that were considered to be related to the administration of THC. Due to the minimal THC-related effects observed in the 13-week study, doses selected for the 2-year mouse study were 125, 250, and 500 mg/kg. 13-WEEK WITH 9-WEEK RECOVERY STUDY IN RATS: Groups of 10 male and 10 female rats received 0, 5, 15, 50, 150, or 500 mg THC/kg body weight in corn oil by gavage, 5 days per week for 13 weeks, and then were allowed to recover during a 9-week treatment-free period. Five male and eight female 500 mg/kg rats, five male and two female 150 mg/kg rats, and three male and two female 50 mg/kg rats died before the end of the study. During the 13-week dosing period, mean body weight gains of all dosed groups of rats were lower than those of the controls but returned to normal during the recovery period. Final mean body weights of all dosed groups were similar to those of the controls. Clinical findings observed during the recovery period included sensitivity to touch, convulsions, and aggressiveness. The absolute right testis weight of 500 mg/kg males was significantly lower than that of the controls. Treatment-related multifocal atrophy of the testis was observed in 150 and 500 mg/kg males. There were no treatment-related lesions observed in females administered THC. 13-WEEK WITH 9-WEEK RECOVERY STUDY IN MICE: Groups of 10 male and 10 female mice received 0, 5, 15, 50, 150, or 500 mg THC/kg body weight in corn oil by gavage, 5 days per week for 13 weeks, and then were allowed to recover during a 9-week treatment-free period. The final mean body weights of all dosed groups were similar to those of the controls. Clinical findings observed during the study included lethargy and aggressiveness, and both male and female mice in all dosed groups were easily startled. The absolutebsolute and relative uterus weights of 150 and 500 mg/kg female mice were significantly lower than those of the controls, as was the absolute uterus weight of 50 mg/kg females. 2-YEAR STUDY IN RATS: Groups of 62 vehicle control male rats, 60 low-dose male rats, 70 mid- and high-dose male rats, and 60 female rats were administered 0, 12.5, 25, or 50 mg THC/kg body weight in corn oil by gavage for 104 to 105 weeks. Nine or ten animals from each group were evaluated at 15 months. Survival, Body Weights, and Clinical Findings: Survival of all dosed groups was generally significantly greater than that of the controls. Mean body weights of dosed groups of males and females were lower than those of the controls throughout the study. Convulsions and seizures were observed in all dosed groups of male and female rats, usually following dosing or handling. Hematology and Clinical Chemistry: At the 15-month interim evaluation, total leukocyte and lymphocyte counts in all dosed groups of females were greater than those of the controls, and platelet counts in these groups were lower than that of the controls. Levels of follicle stimulating and luteinizing hormones in all dosed groups of males were significantly greater than those of the controls, as was the serum corticosterone level of 25 mg/kg females. Pathology Findings: No increased incidences of neoplasms were considered related to administration of THC. The incidences of mammary gland fibroadenoma and uterine stromal polyps were decreased in dosed groups of females, as were the incidences of pituitary gland adenomas, interstitial cell adenomas of the testis, and pancreatic adenomas in dosed males. 2-YEAR STUDY IN MICE: Groups of 62 vehicle control male mice, 60 low-dose male mice, 61 mid-dose male mice, and 60 high-dose male mice and 60 female mice were administered 0, 125, 250, or 500 mg THC/kg body weight in corn oil by gavage for 104 to 105 weeks (males) or 105 to 106 weeks (females). Survival, Body Weights, and Clinical Findings: Survival of 500 mg/kg males was significantly less than that of the controls; survival of all other groups of males and of all dosed groups of females was similar to that of the controls. Mean body weights of all dosed groups were markedly lower than those of the controls throughout the study. Clinical findings in dosed groups included hyperactivity, convulsions, and seizures which occurred following dosing or handling. Hematology: At the 15-month interim evaluation, total leukocyte and lymphocyte counts in all dosed groups of males were significantly lower than those of the controls. Pathology Findings: Increased incidences of thyroid gland follicular cell adenoma occurred in 125 mg/kg males and females, but the increase was not dose-related. Increased incidences of thyroid gland follicular cell hyperplasia occurred in all dosed groups of males and females. Increased incidences of forestomach hyperplasia and ulcers occurred in all groups of males administered THC. Incidences of hepatocellular adenoma and of hepatocellular adenoma or carcinoma (combined) occurred with a significant negative trend in male and female mice, as did incidences of eosinophilic foci and fatty change in the liver. GENETIC TOXICOLOGY: THC was not mutagenic in Salmonella typhimurium strains TA97, TA98, TA100, or TA1535 with or without rat and hamster liver S9 fractions. In cultured Chinese hamster ovary cells, THC induced sister chromatid exchanges at the highest dose tested in the presence of S9; at this dose level, cell cycle delay indicative of toxicity was observed. THC did not induce chromosomal aberrations in cultured Chinese hamster ovary cells with or without S9 metabolic activation enzymes. In vivo, no increase in the frequency of micronucleated erythrocytes was observed in the peripheral blood of male or female mice administered THC by gavage for 13 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: Under the conditions of these 2-year gavage studies, there was no evidence of carcinogenic activity of 1-trans-delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol in male or female F344/N rats administered 12.5, 25, or 50 mg/kg. There was equivocal evidence of carcinogenic activity of THC in male and female B6C3F1 mice based on the increased incidences of thyroid gland follicular cell adenomas in 125 mg/kg groups. Increased incidences of thyroid gland follicular cell hyperplasia occurred in male and female mice, and increased incidences of hyperplasia and ulcers of the forestomach were observed in male mice. The incidences of mammary gland fibroadenomas and uterine stromal polyps were decreased in dosed groups of female rats, as were the incidences of pancreatic adenomas, pituitary gland adenomas, and interstitial cell adenomas of the testis in dosed male rats and liver neoplasms in dosed mice. These decreases were likely related to lower body weights in dosed animals. Synonyms: 3-Pentyl-6,6,9-trimethyl-6a,7,8,10a-tetrahydro-6h-dibenzo(b,d)pyran-1-ol; delta1-tetrahydrocannabinol; (-)-delta1-3,4-trans- tetrahydrocannabinol; delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinon; THC; delta1-THC; delta(9)-THC