Abstract
Summary
The effect of acute administration of δ9-THC, an active principle of marihuana, on serum prolactin was studied in normal, adult, unanesthesized male rats. Animals were ip injected with doses ranging between 0.5 and 10 mg/kg and killed after periods of 15–240 min. Serum prolactin was measured by a radioimmunoassay. Delta-9-THC (5 mg/kg) significantly lowered serum prolactin to 37% of control values within 30 min. This effect, however, was terminated after 4 hr.
As reported earlier, perphenazine treatment resulted in a profound increase (350%) in serum prolactin. This effect, however, was not counteracted by addition of δ9-THC. The mechanism by which δ9-THC suppresses prolactin release is yet unknown.
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