title: Evaluation of Δ(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol metabolites and oxidative stress in type 2 diabetic rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The object of the study is to examine the effects of Δ(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) against oxidative stress in the blood and excretion of THC metabolites in urine of type 2 diabetic rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  The control (n=8), THC control (n=6), diabetes (n=8) and diabetes + THC (n=7) groups were created. Type 2 diabetes was induced by nicotinamide (NA, 85 mg/kg) + streptozotocin (STZ, 65 mg/kg). THC was administered intraperitoneally for seven days. The glutathione (GSH) level in erythrocytes and malondialdehyde (MDA) level, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) enzyme activities in plasma were measured. THC metabolites were analyzed in urine.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that the erythrocyte GSH levels were significantly increased (P<0.05), but plasma MDA levels were non-significantly decreased in diabetes group treated with THC when compared with the diabetes group. The CAT activity was non-significantly reduced and SOD was significantly increased (P<0.01) in the plasma of diabetes induced by THC in comparison with the diabetic group. The excretion of THC metabolites was higher in the urine of diabetes + THC rats as compared to the THC control rats.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings highlight that THC treatment may attenuate slightly the oxidative stress in diabetic rats. The excretion rate of THC may vary in the type 2 diabetes mellitus status.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Istanbul Bilim University, Istanbul, Turkey; Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Cerrahpasa Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Zeynep Mine
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Coskun
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Cerrahpasa Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sema
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bolkent
keywords: Diabetes mellitus; Metabolite; Oxidative stress; Type 2; Urine; Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol