Faculty Collaboration Database

The effects of delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol on serum thyrotropin levels in the rat. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 1984 Apr;20(4):547-50

Date

04/01/1984

Pubmed ID

6328543

DOI

10.1016/0091-3057(84)90303-4

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-0021344416 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   30 Citations

Abstract

The effects of acute treatment with delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta 9-THC) on serum levels of thyrotropin (TSH) and the thyroid hormones triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) were determined in the rat. Intraperitoneal doses of delta 9-THC greater than 3 mg/kg reduced serum TSH levels to less than 10% of control. The ED50 for delta 9-THC was approximately 0.3 mg/kg. After a 10 mg/kg dose of delta 9-THC, the maximum decrease in serum TSH occurred at one hour. Both serum T3 and serum T4 levels were decreased by a single 10 mg/kg delta 9-THC injection with maximal decreases at 6 hr post-injection. The effects of delta 9-THC on the ability of thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) to increase serum TSH and T3 were determined. TRH produced a 10-fold increase in serum TSH levels and this increase was unaffected by delta 9-THC pretreatment. Serum T3 levels were slightly increased by TRH and this increase was also unaffected by delta 9-THC. These findings indicate that acute treatment with delta 9-THC results in a decrease in circulating TSH, T3 and T4 levels but has no effect on the pituitary or thyroid response to exogenous TRH.

Author List

Hillard CJ, Farber NE, Hagen TC, Bloom AS

Author

Cecilia J. Hillard PhD Associate Dean, Center Director, Professor in the Pharmacology and Toxicology department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Animals
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
Dronabinol
Male
Rats
Rats, Inbred Strains
Thyrotropin
Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone
Thyroxine
Triiodothyronine