TY - JOUR
T1 - Very low doses of Δ8-THC increase food consumption and alter neurotransmitter levels following weight loss
AU - Avraham, Yosefa
AU - Ben-Shushan, Dikla
AU - Breuer, Aviva
AU - Zolotarev, Olga
AU - Okon, Avital
AU - Fink, Nir
AU - Katz, Vered
AU - Berry, Elliot M.
PY - 2004/4
Y1 - 2004/4
N2 - We have investigated the effect of 0.001 mg/kg Δ8- tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) on food consumption, cognitive function, and neurotransmitters in mice. Sabra mice were treated with vehicle, THC, or THC+CB1 antagonist (SR141716A). The mice were fed for 2.5 h a day for 9 or 50 days. In the 9-day schedule, THC-treated mice showed a 16% increase in food intake compared with controls (P<.001). This effect was reversed by the antagonist (P<.01). In the long-term schedule a 22% increase in intake (P<.05) was recorded. During the course of the 9- and 50-day experimental protocol, all mice lost about 20% and 10% of their original weight, respectively, to reach approximately the same weights, which were not significantly different between the different treatment groups. In addition, THC caused an increase in activity (P<.05). Cognitive function showed a tendency to improve (P<.06) in the THC-treated mice, which was reversed by the antagonist for Days 4 and 5 of the maze (P<.01, and P<.05, respectively). Significant decreases in dopamine and serotonin (5-HT) levels were found both in the hypothalamus (P<.01) and the hippocampus (P<.01, P<.05), respectively, while norepinephrine (NE) levels showed tendency to increase in both the hypothalamus and hippocampus. Δ8-THC increased food intake significantly more (P<.05) than did Δ9-THC, while performance and activity were similar. Thus, Δ8-THC (0.001 mg/kg) caused increased food consumption and tendency to improve cognitive function, without cannabimimetic side effects. Hence, a low dose of THC might be a potential therapeutic agent in the treatment of weight disorders.
AB - We have investigated the effect of 0.001 mg/kg Δ8- tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) on food consumption, cognitive function, and neurotransmitters in mice. Sabra mice were treated with vehicle, THC, or THC+CB1 antagonist (SR141716A). The mice were fed for 2.5 h a day for 9 or 50 days. In the 9-day schedule, THC-treated mice showed a 16% increase in food intake compared with controls (P<.001). This effect was reversed by the antagonist (P<.01). In the long-term schedule a 22% increase in intake (P<.05) was recorded. During the course of the 9- and 50-day experimental protocol, all mice lost about 20% and 10% of their original weight, respectively, to reach approximately the same weights, which were not significantly different between the different treatment groups. In addition, THC caused an increase in activity (P<.05). Cognitive function showed a tendency to improve (P<.06) in the THC-treated mice, which was reversed by the antagonist for Days 4 and 5 of the maze (P<.01, and P<.05, respectively). Significant decreases in dopamine and serotonin (5-HT) levels were found both in the hypothalamus (P<.01) and the hippocampus (P<.01, P<.05), respectively, while norepinephrine (NE) levels showed tendency to increase in both the hypothalamus and hippocampus. Δ8-THC increased food intake significantly more (P<.05) than did Δ9-THC, while performance and activity were similar. Thus, Δ8-THC (0.001 mg/kg) caused increased food consumption and tendency to improve cognitive function, without cannabimimetic side effects. Hence, a low dose of THC might be a potential therapeutic agent in the treatment of weight disorders.
KW - Activity
KW - Cognitive function
KW - Food consumption
KW - Neurotransmitter levels
KW - THC
KW - Weight loss
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=1942487875&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.pbb.2004.01.015
DO - 10.1016/j.pbb.2004.01.015
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C2 - 15099912
AN - SCOPUS:1942487875
SN - 0091-3057
VL - 77
SP - 675
EP - 684
JO - Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior
JF - Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior
IS - 4
ER -