MARIHUANA INHIBITS DIHYDROTESTOSJERONE BINDING TO THE ANDROGEN RECEPTOR

Abstract
Marihuana and its constituents Δ9 -tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9 -THC) and cannabinol (CBN) were tested for their ability to interact with the androgen receptor in rat prostate cytosol. Smoked marihuana condensate, Δ9-THC, and CBN inhibit specific binding of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) to the androgen receptor with a dissociation constant of the inhibitors (Ki) of 2.1 – 5.8 × 10 -7M. In addition, other metabolites of Δ9-THC were also androgen antagonists. This data suggests that the anti-androgenic effects associated with marihuana use result, at least in part, from inhibition of androgen action at the receptor level.