title: Postmortem redistribution of THC in the pig.
abstract: To improve the knowledge of the postmortem redistribution of Δ(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), an animal model using the Large White pig has been developed, whereby 15 pigs received an intravenous injection of THC (200 µg/kg body weight) and were euthanized 2 h after administration. An autopsy was performed on three pigs immediately after being euthanized while the others were stored in supine position at ambient temperature for 6, 15, 24, or 48 h. THC concentration in blood from the vena cava decreased after death whereas left or right cardiac blood concentrations increased. No blood specimens collected from different sites of the carcasses adequately reflected the perimortem THC concentrations. The highest concentrations of THC at anytime were observed in lung tissue, and brain tissue seemed to present the most stable concentrations over time. This study can assist toxicologists in determining which specimens can, most appropriately, be used for interpretation of cannabinoid concentrations in postmortem specimens.
authors.affiliation: INSERM U927, Université de Poitiers, Faculté de Médecine et Pharmacie, CHU de Poitiers, 6 rue de la Milétrie, BP 577, 86021, Poitiers, France. bertrand.brunet@chu-poitiers.fr
authors.forename: Bertrand
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Brunet
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hauet
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hébrard
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Papet
authors.forename: Gérard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mauco
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mura
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001344:Autopsy; D001646:Bile / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D013154:Spleen / Q000378:metabolism; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection; D013552:Swine; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D013759:Dronabinol