TY - JOUR
T1 - Time course of tetrahydrocannabinol-induced changes in regional cerebral blood flow measured with positron emission tomography
AU - Mathew, Roy J.
AU - Wilson, William H.
AU - Turkington, Timothy G.
AU - Hawk, Thomas C.
AU - Coleman, R. Edward
AU - DeGrado, Timothy R.
AU - Provenzale, James
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was supported by grants from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (DA 08422, DA 10215, and DA 11775).
PY - 2002/12/30
Y1 - 2002/12/30
N2 - While several studies are available on the immediate effects of marijuana and its active ingredient tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) on regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF), we examined the effects of intravenous infusion of THC on rCBF and behavior over a 120-min. period using positron emission tomography. Indices of rCBF, intoxication and physiology were measured at baseline and 30, 60, 90 and 120 min. after a 20-min. intravenous infusion of 0.15 or 0.25 mg/min. of THC, or placebo given to 47 subjects. The rCBF remained increased up to 120 min. after the high-dose THC infusion. Significant increases were seen in global perfusion and in the frontal, insular and anterior cingulate regions. Changes were greater in the right hemisphere. After the high dose, cerebellar flow was increased at both 30 and 60 min. The anterioposterior ratio of cortical rCBF increased in both hemispheres, and remained significantly greater than in the placebo condition until 120 min. in the right hemisphere. Intoxication peaked at 30 min. and remained elevated at 120 min. THC had significant effects on global CBF and rCBF, and feeling intoxicated accounted for changes in rCBF better than plasma level of THC.
AB - While several studies are available on the immediate effects of marijuana and its active ingredient tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) on regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF), we examined the effects of intravenous infusion of THC on rCBF and behavior over a 120-min. period using positron emission tomography. Indices of rCBF, intoxication and physiology were measured at baseline and 30, 60, 90 and 120 min. after a 20-min. intravenous infusion of 0.15 or 0.25 mg/min. of THC, or placebo given to 47 subjects. The rCBF remained increased up to 120 min. after the high-dose THC infusion. Significant increases were seen in global perfusion and in the frontal, insular and anterior cingulate regions. Changes were greater in the right hemisphere. After the high dose, cerebellar flow was increased at both 30 and 60 min. The anterioposterior ratio of cortical rCBF increased in both hemispheres, and remained significantly greater than in the placebo condition until 120 min. in the right hemisphere. Intoxication peaked at 30 min. and remained elevated at 120 min. THC had significant effects on global CBF and rCBF, and feeling intoxicated accounted for changes in rCBF better than plasma level of THC.
KW - Cerebral blood flow
KW - Marijuana intoxication
KW - Physiological changes
KW - Positron emission tomography
KW - Tetrahydrocannabinol
KW - Time course
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U2 - 10.1016/S0925-4927(02)00069-0
DO - 10.1016/S0925-4927(02)00069-0
M3 - Article
C2 - 12477601
AN - SCOPUS:0037203090
SN - 0925-4927
VL - 116
SP - 173
EP - 185
JO - Psychiatry Research - Neuroimaging
JF - Psychiatry Research - Neuroimaging
IS - 3
ER -