Effects of daily administration of tetrahydrocannabinol on rat preovulatory follicles. A quantitative electron-microscopic analysis.

Using morphometric techniques, we analyzed the effects of delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) on the ultrastructure of rat preovulatory follicles. Rats were injected intraperitonally once daily with vehicle alone, or with vehicle plus THC on diestrus (D), metestrus (M) and diestrus (D), or on estrus (E), M and D. All animals were killed on proestrus. Nuclear, mitochondrial, lipid droplet and lysosomal volume density in the membrana granulosa were analyzed. There was no change in nuclear volume, but there were significant THC-induced decreases in mitochondrial and lipid droplet volumes in the peripheral region of the granulosa. There were increases in dense-body volume in all regions of the granulosa from rats given THC either on D alone, or M and D. Dense-body volume returned to control levels in rats injected on E, M and D. It appears that THC can affect follicular ultrastructure and the effects change with the number of injections.