MATERNAL EXPOSURE TO DELTA(9)-TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL (DELTA(9)-THC) ALTERS INDOLEAMINE LEVELS AND TURNOVER IN ADULT MALE AND FEMALE RAT-BRAINREGIONS

Perinatal exposure to Delta(9)-THC has been shown to produce effects o n brain development, In this study we evaluated the changes induced by maternal exposure to Delta(9)-THC (5 mg/kg per day) from gestational day 5 to postnatal day 24 in eight discrete brain areas on the central serotoninergic system in both adult male and female rats, These resul t show that maternal exposure to Delta(9)-THC from gestational day 5 t o postnatal day 24 affects development of the various central indoleam inergic system of the offsprings brain, Perinatal exposure to Delta(9) -THC decreased the levels of 5-HT in hypothalamus and rostral neostria tum in exposed males, and also decreased the levels of 5-HT in ventral hippocampus, septum, and midbrain raphe nuclei in both exposed males and females, Perinatal exposure to Delta(9)-THC increased the levels o f 5-HIAA in dorsal hippocampus, hypothalamus, septum, midbrain raphe n uclei, and rostral neostriatum in exposed males and females, We have a lso found differences between nonexposed males and females in several brain regions, Our results confirm a regional and sexual specificity i n endogenous levels of indoleamine after perinatal Delta(9)-THC treatm ent, being the midbrain raphe nuclei the most affected area. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Inc.