Étude des cinétiques sanguines et cérébrales du Δ9-tétrahydrocannabinol, de ses métabolites, du cannabidiol et du cannabinol chez la souris. Application à l'homme Kinetic study of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol, its metabolites, cannabidiol and cannabinol in the blood and brain of mice. Application to humans

Objectives: Cannabis, one of the most abused drugs in the world, is the cause of many symptoms including behavioral disorders. Cannabis contains, in addition to the Δ9-THC usually studied, cannabidiol and cannabinol. Since the effects of cannabinoids seem to continue beyond their presence in the blood, a kinetic shift between the brain and blood could exist for these compounds. Method: After development and validation of a GC/MS method for the simultaneous measurement of Δ9-THC, its metabolites, cannabinol and cannabidiol, we examined the kinetics of the cannabinoid compounds in blood and in different cerebral areas in mice. We also measured these compounds in blood, urine and different brain areas in deceased humans after autopsies. Results: Cannabidiol is still present in the brain of mice when it has disappeared from the blood. Such persistence was also found in samples from deceased persons for cannabidiol, but also for THC and cannabinol. Conclusion: This study highlighted the persistence of some cannabinoids in the brain after they have disappeared from the blood. This may explain the continuing spatio-temporal disorders of people abusing this drug.