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Hashish smoking and T-lymphocytes

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Abstract

To investigate the effect of long term hashish use on T-lymphocytes we have measured the incorporation of14C-thymidine by peripheral blood lymphocytes, unstimulated and stimulated by phytohemagglutinin, as well as the proportion and number of E-rosettes in 12 healthy male chronic users of the drug before and after a smoking session, and in 15 control subjects.

The results show that hashish smoking does not impair the response of lymphocytes to PHA, at least at the concentration of PHA used. Furthermore there is a possibility that among chronic users a hashish smoking session may have a slight stimulatory effect.

Zusammenfassung

Zur Untersuchung des Langzeiteffekts von Haschischgebrauch auf T-Lymphozyten haben wir den Einbau von14C-Thymidin in Lymphozyten des strömenden Blutes ohne und mit Stimulierung durch Phythämagglutinine (PHA) gemessen. Zugleich wurde das Zahlenverhältnis von E-Rosetten bei zwölf gesunden männlichen chronischen Haschischkonsumenten vor und nach einer Rauchperiode bestimmt sowie mit 15 Kontrollpersonen verglichen. Haschischrauchen ergab keine Schädigung der Lymphozytenrekation auf PHA, wenigstens bei der verwendeten PHA-Konzentration. Es ist nicht ausgeschlossen, daß nach chronischem Haschischrauchen eine leichte Stimulierung eintritt.

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Kaklamani, E., Trichopoulos, D., Koutselinis, A. et al. Hashish smoking and T-lymphocytes. Arch Toxicol 40, 97–101 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01891963

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