Journal Article Ppublish
PubMed: 40694686 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.5c00417
Predicting Δ-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol-Induced Psychoactive and Cognitive Effects: A PBPK-PD Approach to Quantifying Feeling High and Reduced Alertness.
ACS Chem Neurosci 16(15):3059-3069
Authors: Lixuan Qian, Zhu Zhou
Affiliations
- Department of Chemistry, York College, City University of New York, Jamaica, New York 11451, United States.
Abstract
The increasing use of cannabis for medicinal and recreational purposes highlights the need to understand its psychoactive effects. Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary psychoactive cannabinoid, is responsible for feeling high and reduced alertness after cannabis use. This study aimed to develop and verify physiologically based pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PBPK-PD) models to quantify the effects of THC and its active metabolite, 11-hydroxy-THC, on feeling high and reduction in alertness in healthy adults. The models were developed using Simcyp, based on our previously verified THC PBPK model. A direct response model with a maximum effect (E max) function driven by the brain concentrations and an effect compartment was used to describe visual analogue scale (VAS) scores for feeling high after intravenous, oral, and inhaled THC administration. An indirect response model with an E max function driven by the brain concentrations was used to describe the reduction in VAS alertness scores after inhaled THC. Our models accurately captured the dose-response relationships for THC doses ranging from 2 to 86 mg for feeling high, and 2 to 69.4 mg for alertness reduction. The verified PBPK-PD model provides a robust tool for predicting the psychoactive and cognitive effects of THC, enabling improved assessment of cannabis-induced responses across diverse populations.
MeSH
Dronabinol, Brain