1. Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyushu University 62, Fukuoka 812, Japan;2. Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Fukuoka University, Fukuoka 814-01, Japan
Abstract:
The present study was designed to examine the influence of delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) on the central dopaminergic system using circling behavior. THC 5 mg/kg i.p. produced ipsilateral circling in rats with unilateral nigral lesion by 6-hydroxy-dopamine. THC-induced ipsilateral circling was completely antagonized by 0.2 mg/kg of haloperidol. These findings suggest that THC may cause a presynaptic stimulation of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons.