Abstract
(-)-Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) at a concentration of 100 µM irreversibily inhibited the proliferation of mouse neuroblastoma (NB2A) cells in tissue culture. Only a 60% reduction in rat glioma (C6) cell proliferation was observed at 100 µM Δ9-THC, which could be reversed by removing the drug. Dose-dependent inhibition of protein, RNA, and DNA synthesis, accompanied by inhibition of precursor uptake, was observed in NB2A cells at 1, 10, and 100 µM Δ9-THC, with the highest concentration of drug producing greater than 90% inhibition of DNA and RNA synthesis. Inhibition of DNA and RNA synthesis to less than 50% of control was observed only at 100 µM Δ9-THC in C6 cells. The pattern of subcellular distribution of [3H]Δ9-THC in NB2A cells did not differ appreciably from the distribution of the radioactive drug in C6 cells. In both cell lines, a large amount of intracellularly bound [3H]Δ9-THC appeared in the crude nuclear fractions. NB2A cells displayed a 10-fold greater uptake of drug. This enhanced uptake of drug could be related to the greater sensitivity of NB2A cells to inhibition of growth and macromolecular synthesis by Δ9-THC as compared with the C6 cells.
- Copyright © 1977 by Academic Press, Inc.
MolPharm articles become freely available 12 months after publication, and remain freely available for 5 years.Non-open access articles that fall outside this five year window are available only to institutional subscribers and current ASPET members, or through the article purchase feature at the bottom of the page.
|