A study of the mechanism of transport of delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol in the rat submaxillary gland in vitro

Abstract

In vitro studies on rat submaxillary gland slices with 3H-delta9-THC (3.6 X 10(-6)M) showed that this drug was transported into and accumulated by salivary tissue. Approximately 50% of the delta9-THC was firmly bound in or on the tissue. The uptake of 3H-delta9-THC was unchanged from control conditions (pH 7.4, 37 degrees C, 100% oxygen, 3.2 X 10(-6)M) when the metabolic inhibitors, 2,4-dinitrophenol (10(-3)M) and cyanide (10(-3)M) were used or when oxygen was replaced by nitrogen. The efflux of 3H-delta9-THC from salivary gland slices increased following addition of an excess of unlabeled drug. These data suggest a passive transport process for the movement of delta9-THC into salivary tissue with a possible saturable binding site operating on or in the interior of the salivary cell.