Neuronal responses to delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol in the solitary tract nucleus.
T Himmi, M Dallaporta, J Perrin, J C Orsini
European Journal of Pharmacology October 3, 1996 DOI: 10.1016/0014-2999(96)00490-6 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Ex vivo extracellular recording study in rat brain slices Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Neurons in the subpostremal division of the nucleus tractus solitarii in rat brain slices |
| Interventions | Delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol Clonidine 1-phenylbiguanide |
| Topics | Cannabis |
| Key points | THC significantly altered spontaneous firing in 54.8% of recorded subpostremal nucleus tractus solitarii neurons. Glucose-responsive (putative nutrition-related) neurons were selectively sensitive to THC, and THC-sensitive neurons were depressed by clonidine, suggesting an adrenergic or noradrenergic identity. The authors propose these catecholaminergic, glucose-responsive neurons might mediate cannabinoid effects on feeding, and that opposite responses to THC and a 5-HT3 agonist may relate to cannabinoid nausea reduction. |
Abstract
The effects of delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol on single-unit activity in the subpostremal division of the nucleus tractus solitarii were investigated by extracellular recording in rat brain slices. The spontaneous firing rate of 54.8% of the recorded neurons was significantly changed after bath applications of delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol. Putative nutrition-related neurons responding to a moderate increase in glucose concentration were selectively sensitive to delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol. The delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol-sensitive neurons were depressed by clonidine and are therefore likely to be adrenergic or noradrenergic. These observations suggest that some catecholaminergic, glucose-responsive neurons in the subpostremal nucleus tractus solitarii might mediate the influence of cannabinoids on feeding behaviour. Furthermore, most delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol-sensitive neurons in the nucleus tractus solitarii showed opposite responses to delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol and the 5-HT3 receptor agonist 1-phenylbiguanide, and might therefore be involved in the nausea-reducing effects of cannabinoids.