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The effects of acute Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol on striatal glutamatergic function : A proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy study
Bloomfield, Michael A. P. Petrilli, Katherine Lees, Rachel Hindocha, Chandni Beck, Katherine Turner, Ryan J. Onwordi, Ellis Chika Rane, Neil Lythgoe, David J. Stone, James M.
Bloomfield, Michael A. P.
Petrilli, Katherine
Lees, Rachel
Hindocha, Chandni
Beck, Katherine
Turner, Ryan J.
Onwordi, Ellis Chika
Rane, Neil
Lythgoe, David J.
Stone, James M.
Abstract
Background
Cannabis and its main psychoactive component, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), can elicit transient psychotic symptoms. A key candidate biological mechanism of how THC induces psychotic symptoms is the modulation of glutamate in the brain. We sought to investigate the effects of acute THC administration on striatal glutamate levels and its relationship to the induction of psychotic symptoms.
Methods
We used proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy to measure glutamate levels in the striatum in 20 healthy participants after THC (15 mg, oral) and matched placebo administration in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled design. Psychotic symptoms were measured using the Psychotomimetic States Inventory.
Results
We found that THC administration did not significantly change glutamate (glutamate plus glutamine relative to creatine) concentration in the striatum (p = .58; scaled Jeffreys-Zellner-Siow Bayes factor = 4.29). THC increased psychotic symptoms, but the severity of these symptoms was not correlated with striatal glutamate levels.
Conclusions
These findings suggest that oral administration of 15 mg of THC does not result in altered striatal glutamate levels. Further work is needed to clarify the effects of THC on striatal glutamate.
Keywords
cannabis, glutamate, MRS, psychosis, striatum, tetrahydrocannabinol
Date
2021
Type
Journal article
Journal
Book
Volume
6
Issue
6
Page Range
660-667
Article Number
ACU Department
School of Behavioural and Health Sciences
Faculty of Health Sciences
Faculty of Health Sciences
Relation URI
Source URL
Event URL
Open Access Status
License
All rights reserved
File Access
Controlled