THC

Question 1

What are the effects of THC?

Answer 1

analgesic (perception of pain)
Euphoriant or sedative (makes you happy or tires you)
Anxiolytic/anxiogenic (change anxiety-levels)
Appetite stimulant
Hallucinogen

Question 2

What are clinical uses of THC?

Answer 2

treatment of glaucoma
treatment of anorexia
reduce nausea

Question 3

What is glaucoma?

Answer 3

Damage to optic nerve by buildup of fluid

Question 4

What is the most pharmacologically active cannabinoid in cannabis?

Answer 4

delta-9 THC

Question 5

How lipid-soluble is THC?

Answer 5

Very - high depot binding

Question 6

How long does it take for THC to show behavioral effects when smoked?

Answer 6

5 minutes
peak effects within 30 min
last ~3 hr

Question 7

Where is THC eliminated?

Answer 7

Mostly urine

But also some in feces (because it’s so lipid-soluble)

Question 8

What is the 1/2 life of THC?

Answer 8

20-96hr.. 50hr for some metabolites. Stored in fat, released like a time capsule

Question 9

Are cannabinoid receptors ionotropic or metabotropic?

Answer 9

Metabotropic

Question 10

Why should there be cannabinoid receptors in the brain?

Answer 10

There are endocannabinoids

e.g. anadamide (stress, pain, learning), 2-AG

Question 11

Why should there be cannabinoid receptors in the brain?

Answer 11

There are endocannabinoids

e.g. anadamide (stress, pain, learning), 2-AG

Question 12

How do cannabinoid receptors modulate stress?

Answer 12

HPA axis is chock full of them

Question 13

How is pain modulated by cannabinoid receptors?

Answer 13

Periaquaductal grey has a lot

Hypothalamus has a lot

Question 14

Why is nausea modulated by endocannabinoids?

Answer 14

Area postrema is chock full of cannabinoid receptors

Question 15

Does THC agonize or antagonize cannabinoid receptors?

Answer 15

‘agonist’

Although some studies say partial agonist

Question 16

Where else are cannabinoid receptors expressed a lot?

Answer 16

Cortex
HC
Cerebellum
Basal ganglia (globus pallidus)

Question 17

What does CB1 do in regards to GABAergic neurons?

Answer 17

Preferentially reduce inhibitory transmitter release

Question 18

Why are there pyramidal neurons in the HC?

Answer 18

Hippocampus is part of the cortex! (Old cortex / archicortex - 3 layers instead of 6)

Question 19

What type of input is on distal dendrites?

Answer 19

Excitatory

Question 20

What type of input is more on proximal dendrites?

Answer 20

Inhibitory

Question 21

What releases moderate amounts of endocannabinoids?

Answer 21

Released when we’re learning something (e.g. stress?)

Question 22

What is the effect of moderate endocannabinoids getting released under stress?

Answer 22

CB1 inhibition of GABA release

Question 23

What effect does CB1 inhibition of GABA release have?

Answer 23

EPSPs are unfettered because release of GABA is inhibited

More NMDA activation = more AMPA release

Question 24

Does THC inhibit or excite long-term potentiation?

Answer 24

Inhibits it

Question 25

Why does THC inhibit LTP?

Answer 25

THC inhibits CB1 receptors on glutamatergic terminals, inhibiting Ca2+ influx and suppressing glutamate release

Question 26

Are CB1 receptors always activating?

Answer 26

No, they're like a safety valve Only under intense stress

Question 27

What do endocannabinoids do in the HC? What does THC do in the HC?

Answer 27

Endocannabinoids activate CB1 on GABA terminals, inhibiting GABA and causing excitation THC agonizes CB1 receptors on GABA terminals, but also on glutamate terminals, causing a NET EFFECT of inhibition

Question 28

What are some inverse agonists for CB1? What are some agonists for CB1? What are some antagonists for CB1?

Answer 28

The point here: CB1 enjoys the full range of pharmacodynamic properties Inverse agonist: rimonabant Agonist: WIN 55,212-2 Antagonist: Ibipinabant

Question 29

What is the functional difference between CB-1 receptors and adenosine receptors?

Answer 29

Very similar.. But CB-1

Question 30

What does SR141716 to to high people?

Answer 30

Decreases effects It's an inverse agonist

Question 31

What happens to reflexes / motor skills with THC?

Answer 31

Reflexes unaffected Motor skills compromised, however, by inability to concentrate

Question 32

What happens to attention/memory with THC?

Answer 32

Inability to pay attention | Short-term memory decreased

Question 33

What happens to suggestions / associations with THC?

Answer 33

More open to suggestions More open to seeing associations

Question 34

What happens to escape latency in morris water maze with CB1-impaired mice?

Answer 34

They learn much more slowly | greater path length, longer escape latency, more returns

Question 35

What are returns in regards to CB1-knockout mice in Morris water mazes?

Answer 35

They keep going back to the old place the platform was Don't learn that it's changed location

Question 36

What is the LD50 of THC?

Answer 36

No known LD50. No confirmed instances of brain pathology

Question 37

Is THC withdrawal a thing?

Answer 37

Yes, although more mild than ethanol High withdrawal discomfort score after 1-3 days, takes a few weeks for it to disappear

Question 38

Where in the digestive system are there a lot of CB receptors?

Answer 38

GI tract - tons of them. Partly increases hedonic value of foods high in fat