Chronic effects of marihuana extract on thyroid-gonad relationship in rats

ABSTRACT

Studies were carried out to elucidate the effects of Crude Aqueous Marihauna Extract free of tetrahydrocannabinol and other cannabinoids (CAME) on thyroid-gonad relationship in male rats. Oral indigestion of CAME for 52 days increased (p<0.01) the plasma levels of total circulating thyroxine and triiodothyronine, increased the weight of the adrenal gland (p<0.05), slightly decreased the plasma thyrotrophin level and the weight of the thyroid gland. These changes suggest the presence of hyperthyroidism in rats receiving CAME. Increased plasma thyroxine levels in CAME-treated rats correlated with the total plasma testosterone (r=0.526), indicating a possibility of thyroid-gonad relationship in such rats (AU)