The uptake of tritiated delta 1-tetrahydrocannabinol by the isolated vas deferens of the rat.

1 Weighed stripped vasa deferentia were incubated in Holman's solution containing (a) [14C]-sorbitol 0.014 mm, (b) [3H]-noradrenaline ([3H]-NA) 12.31 nM, (c) [3H]-tetrahydrocannabinol ([3H]-delta1-THC) 1 mug/ml for 5, 10, 20 and 30 minutes. 2 Tissues were washed, dissolved in Protosol, counted by standard scintillation counting technique and 'drug space' expressed as ct min-1 mg-1 tissue/ct min-l mul-1 bathing fluid. 3 Vasa incubated for 30 min with [14C]-sorbitol were washed for varying lengths of time; 82% clearance had taken place after 2 washes of 5 minutes. 4 The uptake of [3H]-NA was inhibited by the presence of desmethylimipramine (DMI) 10 nM in the bath or by pretreatment of rats with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA). 5 The uptake of [3H]-delta 1-THC was not inhibited by the presence of DMI. It was reduced but not abolished by 6-OHDA pretreatment.