Adrenocortical changes in rats during acute and chronic administration of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol

Acute intraperitoneal administration of delta-9-THC (at doses of 10 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg) to adult male albino rats showed characteristic stimulating effect on adrenocortical tissues with marked depletion of ascorbic acid, cholesterol containing neutral lipids and significant increase in the delta5-3 beta -hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activities in the zona fasciculata and zona reticularis regions. Adrenal weights and the histometric measurements of the adrenocortical areas showed no significant changes. Chronic intraperitoneal administration of delta-9-THC (at doses of 10 mg/kg per day for 15 days) produced marked accumulation of cholesterol containing neutral lipids, with increase in ascorbic acid and delta5-3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase activities in the fasciculata-reticularis regions. Adrenal weights and histometric measurements revealed marked hypertrophy of the adrenal glands.