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Drugs of abuse including cannabis and inhalants impair risk/reward decision making. Cannabis use is often concurrent with inhalant intoxication; yet, preclinical studies investigating the role of endocannabinoids in inhalant misuse are limited. To address this gap in the literature, we used the well-validated probabilistic discounting task to assess risk/reward decision making in rodents following combinations of toluene vapor (a common inhalant) and manipulations of cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1R) signaling. As reported previously, acute exposure to toluene vapor disrupted behavioral flexibility during probabilistic discounting. Systemic administration of the CB1R inverse agonist AM281 did not prevent toluene-induced alterations in risky choices, but did independently reduce win-stay behavior, increase choice latency, and increase omissions. Toluene-induced deficits in probabilistic discounting are thought to involve impaired medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) activity. As we previously reported that some of toluene's inhibitory effects on glutamatergic signaling in the mPFC are endocannabinoid-dependent, we tested the hypothesis that mPFC CB1R activity mediates toluene-induced deficits in discounting. However, bilateral injection of the CB1R inverse agonist AM251 prior to toluene vapor exposure had no effect on toluene-induced changes in risk behavior. In a final set of experiments, we injected the CB1R inverse agonist AM251 (5 and 50 ng), the CB1R agonist WIN55,212–2 (50 ng and 500 ng), or vehicle into the mPFC prior to testing. While mPFC CB1R stimulation did not affect any of the measures tested, the CB1R inverse agonist caused a dose-dependent reduction in win-stay behavior without altering any other measures. Together, these studies indicate that toluene-induced deficits in probabilistic discounting are largely distinct from CB1R-dependent effects that include decreased effectiveness of positive reinforcement (mPFC CB1Rs), decision making speed, and task engagement (non-mPFC CB1Rs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Neuropathic pain involves injury or alteration of the normal sensory and modulatory nervous systems to produce a set of symptoms that are often difficult to treat. Previous study indicates that crocin has anti-inflammatory properties that may be mediated by the neurotransmitter system. In this study, we determine if there is an interaction between crocin and the cannabinoid system on chronic constriction injury (CCI)-induced neuropathic pain in male rats. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, adult male Wistar rats (220– 250 g) were used. CCI was induced by setting four loose ligatures around the sciatic nerve. In part 1, after nerve lesion, vehicle, crocin (60 mg/kg) or Win 55-212-2 (0.1 mg/kg) as an agonist and AM 251 (0.1 mg/kg) as an antagonist of cannabinoid receptors were injected intraperitoneally daily in separate groups for 2 weeks. In part 2, two weeks after nerve lesion, vehicle (5 μL), crocin (6 μg/5 μL), Win 55-212-2 (0.1 μg/5 μL), AM 251 (0.1 μg/5 μL) were administered intracerebroventricularly (ICV) in separate groups. Mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia were measured using Von Frey filaments and plantar test device, respectively, at day 14. Data were analyzed by two-way ANOVA and Sidak's multiple comparisons post-test. Results: Results indicated that centrally administered crocin significantly decreased thermal hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia. Also, peripheral injection of crocin significantly decreased mechanical allodynia but not thermal hyperalgesia. Central or peripheral administration of Win 55-212-2 or AM  251 modulates the analgesic effect of crocin significantly. Conclusion: Our findings showed that crocin has significant analgesic effects that are probably mediated by an endocannabinoid mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cannabinoid type 1 ( CB1) receptors control the motivational properties and reinforcing effects of nicotine. Indeed, peripheral administration of a CB1 receptor antagonist dramatically decreases both nicotine taking and seeking. However, the neural substrates through which the cannabinoid CB1 receptors regulate the voluntary intake of nicotine remain to be elucidated. In the present study, we sought to determine whether central injections of a CB1 receptor antagonist delivered either into the ventral tegmental area ( VTA) or the nucleus accumbens ( NAC) may alter nicotine intravenous self-administration ( IVSA). Rats were first trained to self-administer nicotine (30 μg/kg/0.1 ml). The effect of central infusions of the CB1 antagonist AM 251 (0, 1 and 10 μg/0.5 μl/side) on nicotine-taking behavior was then tested. Intra- VTA infusions of AM 251 dose dependently reduced IVSA with a significant decrease for the dose 10 μg/0.5 μl/side. Moreover, operant responding for water was unaltered by intra- VTA AM 251 at the same dose. Surprisingly, intra- NAC delivery of AM 251 did not alter nicotine behavior at all. These data suggest that in rats chronically exposed to nicotine IVSA, the cannabinoid CB1 receptors located in the VTA rather than in the NAC specifically control nicotine reinforcement and, subsequently, nicotine-taking behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neuroprotection in retinal experimental work consists primarily of preventing retinal ganglion cell (RGC) loss after exposure to a hostile event. We have studied the neuroprotective effect on RGCs in an ischemia-reperfusion model by activation of the cannabinoid receptor CB1 using topical application of WIN 55212-2. Intraocular pressure (IOP) was increased by continuous infusion of phosphate buffer saline (PBS) into the anterior chamber of the eye. Mean intraocular pressure was increased up to 88.5 ± 0.29 mm Hg (control normal IOP 15.1 ± 0.25 mm Hg), for 35 min. Animals were distributed in 3 groups. Left eyes underwent acute rise in intraocular pressure. First group was treated with topical Tocrisolve™ 100 in both eyes. Second group was treated with 1% solution of CB1 agonist WIN 55212-2 in both eyes. Third group was treated with WIN 55212-2 1% and CB1 antagonist AM 251 1% solutions in both eyes. Subsequently, RGCs were immunolabeled with Brn3a and automated quantification of retinal mosaics of RGCs were performed. The ischemic damage led to a mean loss in RGC density of 12.33%. After topic administration of WIN 55212-2, mean loss of RGCs was of 2.45%. Co-treatment with CB1 antagonist AM 251 abolished almost completely the neuroprotective effect of WIN 55212-2. Topic 1% WIN 55212-2 showed a neuroprotective effect on RGC degeneration after ischemia-reperfusion without pre-activation of CB1 receptors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Like emotional symptoms such as anxiety, modulations in working memory are among the frequently-reported but controversial psychiatric symptoms associated with nicotine (NC) administration. In the present study, repeated NC-induced modulations in working memory, along with concurrently-observed anxietyrelated behavioral alterations, were investigated in mice, and compared with the effects of a typical cognitionimpairing stressor, immobilization stress (IM). Furthermore, considering the structural and functional contributions of brain cannabinoid (CB) receptors in NC-induced psychiatric symptoms including emotional symptoms, the interactive effects of brain CB receptor ligands (CB ligands) and NC and/or IM on the working memory- and anxiety-related behaviors were examined. Results: Statistically significant working memory impairment-like behavioral alterations in the Y-maze test and anxiety-like behavioral alterations in the elevated plus-maze (EPM) test were observed in the groups of mice treated with 0.8 mg/kg NC (subcutaneous (s.c.) 0.8 mg/kg treatment, 4 days) and/or IM (10 min treatment, 4 days). In the group of mice treated with NC plus IM (NC-IM group), an enhancement of the behavioral alterations was observed. Among the CB type 1 (CB1) antagonist AM 251 (AM), the non-selective CB agonist CP 55,940 (CP), and the CB1 partial agonist/antagonist virodhamine (VD), significant recovering effects were provided by AM (0.2-2.5 mg/kg) and VD (5 mg/kg) against the working memory impairment-like behaviors, whereas significant anxiolytic-like effects (recoveries from both attenuated percentage of entries into open arms and attenuated percentage of time spent on open arms) were provided by VD (1-10 mg/kg) and CP (2 mg/kg) against the anxiety-like behaviors. Conclusions: Although working memory impairment- and anxiety-like behavioral alterations were commonly induced in the NC, IM, and NC-IM groups and the therapeutic involvement of CB receptors was shown, there were discrepancies in the types of effective CB ligands between the working memory- and anxiety-related behaviors. The differential involvements of CB receptor subtypes and indirectly activated neurotransmitter systems may contribute to these discrepancies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose:A putative novel cannabinoid receptor mediates vasorelaxation to anandamide and abnormal-cannabidiol and is blocked by O-1918 and by high concentrations of rimonabant. This study investigates VSN16, a novel water-soluble agonist, as a vasorelaxant potentially acting at non-CB1, non-CB2 cannabinoid receptors in the vasculature.Experimental approach:VSN16 and some analogues were synthesized and assayed for vasodilator activity in the rat third generation mesenteric artery using wire myography. Also carried out with VSN16 were haemodynamic studies in conscious rats and binding studies to CB1 receptors of rat cerebellum.Key results:VSN16 relaxed mesenteric arteries in an endothelium-dependent manner. The vasorelaxation was antagonized by high concentrations of the classical cannabinoid antagonists, rimonabant and AM 251, as well as by O-1918, an antagonist at the abnormal-cannabidiol receptor but not at CB1 or CB2 receptors. It did not affect [3H]CP55,940 binding to CB1 receptors in rat cerebellum. The vasorelaxation was not pertussis toxin-sensitive but was reduced by inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis, Ca2+-sensitive K+ channels (KCa) and TRPV1 receptors. In conscious rats VSN16 transiently increased blood pressure and caused a longer-lasting increase in mesenteric vascular conductance. Structure-activity studies on vasorelaxation showed a stringent interaction with the target receptor.Conclusions and implications:VSN16 is an agonist at a novel cannabinoid receptor of the vasculature. It acts on the endothelium to release nitric oxide and activate KCa and TRPV1. As it is water-soluble it might be useful in bringing about peripheral cannabinoid-like effects without accompanying central or severe cardiovascular responses.British Journal of Pharmacology (2007) 152, 751–764; doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0707470; published online 24 September 2007 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]