Histopathologic changes in rabbits chronically exposed to hashish smoke

ABSTRACT

The effect of chronic exposure to hashish smoke on the brain, lungs, liver, spleen and kidneys of 30 rabbits was investigated and compared with ten animals exposed to placebo smoke and five untreated controls. Compared with the untreated controls, histopathologic changes were observed in the brain and lungs in the hashish and placebo smoke-exposed animals. Hashish smoke-exposed rabbits showed hepatic, splenic and renal histopathologic changes when compared with untreated controls or animals exposed to placebo smoke. The results are discussed and compared with those in the literature. It is believed that the pathologic changes in the brain and lungs, being present with equal frequency in hashish and placebo smoke exposed animals, are not directly related to cannabis and may be caused by the other ingredients in the smoke. However, the hepatic, splenic and renal changes are believed to be a cannabis effect