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Rosado‐Franco JJ, Ellison AL, White CJ, Price AS, Moore CF, Williams RE, Fridman LB, Weerts EM, Williams DW. Roadmap for the expression of canonical and extended endocannabinoid system receptors and metabolic enzymes in peripheral organs of preclinical animal models. Physiol Rep 2024; 12:e15947. [PMID: 38408761 PMCID: PMC10896677 DOI: 10.14814/phy2.15947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 01/27/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The endocannabinoid system is widely expressed throughout the body and is comprised of receptors, ligands, and enzymes that maintain metabolic, immune, and reproductive homeostasis. Increasing interest in the endocannabinoid system has arisen due to these physiologic roles, policy changes leading to more widespread recreational use, and the therapeutic potential of Cannabis and phytocannabinoids. Rodents have been the primary preclinical model of focus due to their relative low cost, short gestational period, genetic manipulation strategies, and gold-standard behavioral tests. However, the potential for lack of clinical translation to non-human primates and humans is high as cross-species comparisons of the endocannabinoid system have not been evaluated. To bridge this gap in knowledge, we evaluate the relative gene expression of 14 canonical and extended endocannabinoid receptors in seven peripheral organs of C57/BL6 mice, Sprague-Dawley rats, and non-human primate rhesus macaques. Notably, we identify species- and organ-specific heterogeneity in endocannabinoid receptor distribution where there is surprisingly limited overlap among the preclinical models. Importantly, we determined there were no receptors with identical expression patterns among mice (three males and two females), rats (six females), and rhesus macaques (four males). Our findings demonstrate a critical, yet previously unappreciated, contributor to challenges of rigor and reproducibility in the cannabinoid field, which has implications in hampering progress in understanding the complexity of the endocannabinoid system and development of cannabinoid-based therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- J. J. Rosado‐Franco
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical BiologyEmory University School of MedicineAtlantaGeorgiaUSA
- Department of Molecular and Comparative PathobiologyJohns Hopkins University‐School of MedicineBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - A. L. Ellison
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and ImmunologyJohns Hopkins University‐Bloomberg School of Public HealthBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - C. J. White
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical BiologyEmory University School of MedicineAtlantaGeorgiaUSA
- Department of Molecular and Comparative PathobiologyJohns Hopkins University‐School of MedicineBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - A. S. Price
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical BiologyEmory University School of MedicineAtlantaGeorgiaUSA
| | - C. F. Moore
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral SciencesJohns Hopkins University Bayview CampusBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - R. E. Williams
- Department of NeuroscienceJohns Hopkins University‐School of MedicineBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - L. B. Fridman
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical BiologyEmory University School of MedicineAtlantaGeorgiaUSA
| | - E. M. Weerts
- Department of NeuroscienceJohns Hopkins University‐School of MedicineBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - D. W. Williams
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical BiologyEmory University School of MedicineAtlantaGeorgiaUSA
- Department of Molecular and Comparative PathobiologyJohns Hopkins University‐School of MedicineBaltimoreMarylandUSA
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and ImmunologyJohns Hopkins University‐Bloomberg School of Public HealthBaltimoreMarylandUSA
- Department of NeuroscienceJohns Hopkins University‐School of MedicineBaltimoreMarylandUSA
- Division of Clinical PharmacologyJohns Hopkins University‐School of MedicineBaltimoreMarylandUSA
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Rosado-Franco JJ, Ellison AL, White CJ, Price AS, Moore CF, Williams RE, Fridman LB, Weerts EM, Williams DW. Roadmap For The Expression Of Canonical and Extended Endocannabinoid System Receptors and Proteins in Peripheral Organs of Preclinical Animal Models. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.10.544455. [PMID: 37333264 PMCID: PMC10274867 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.10.544455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
The endocannabinoid system is widely expressed throughout the body and is comprised of receptors, ligands, and enzymes that maintain metabolic, immune, and reproductive homeostasis. Increasing interest in the endocannabinoid system has arisen due to these physiologic roles, policy changes leading to more widespread recreational use, and the therapeutic potential of Cannabis and phytocannabinoids. Rodents have been the primary preclinical model of focus due to their relative low cost, short gestational period, genetic manipulation strategies, and gold-standard behavioral tests. However, the potential for lack of clinical translation to non-human primates and humans is high as cross-species comparisons of the endocannabinoid system has not been evaluated. To bridge this gap in knowledge, we evaluate the relative gene expression of 14 canonical and extended endocannabinoid receptors in seven peripheral organs of C57/BL6 mice, Sprague-Dawley rats, and non-human primate rhesus macaques. Notably, we identify species- and organ-specific heterogeneity in endocannabinoid receptor distribution where there is surprisingly limited overlap among the preclinical models. Importantly, we determined there were only five receptors (CB2, GPR18, GPR55, TRPV2, and FAAH) that had identical expression patterns in mice, rats, and rhesus macaques. Our findings demonstrate a critical, yet previously unappreciated, contributor to challenges of rigor and reproducibility in the cannabinoid field, which has profound implications in hampering progress in understanding the complexity of the endocannabinoid system and development of cannabinoid-based therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- J J Rosado-Franco
- Department of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, Johns Hopkins University-School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - A L Ellison
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Immunology, Johns Hopkins University-Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - C J White
- Department of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, Johns Hopkins University-School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - A S Price
- Department of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, Johns Hopkins University-School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - C F Moore
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University Bayview Campus, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - R E Williams
- Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University-School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - L B Fridman
- Department of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, Johns Hopkins University-School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - E M Weerts
- Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University-School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - D W Williams
- Department of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, Johns Hopkins University-School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Immunology, Johns Hopkins University-Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Johns Hopkins University-School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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Why Do Marijuana and Synthetic Cannabimimetics Induce Acute Myocardial Infarction in Healthy Young People? Cells 2022; 11:cells11071142. [PMID: 35406706 PMCID: PMC8997492 DOI: 10.3390/cells11071142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Revised: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of cannabis preparations has steadily increased. Although cannabis was traditionally assumed to only have mild vegetative side effects, it has become evident in recent years that severe cardiovascular complications can occur. Cannabis use has recently even been added to the risk factors for myocardial infarction. This review is dedicated to pathogenetic factors contributing to cannabis-related myocardial infarction. Tachycardia is highly important in this respect, and we provide evidence that activation of CB1 receptors in brain regions important for cardiovascular regulation and of presynaptic CB1 receptors on sympathetic and/or parasympathetic nerve fibers are involved. The prototypical factors for myocardial infarction, i.e., thrombus formation and coronary constriction, have also been considered, but there is little evidence that they play a decisive role. On the other hand, an increase in the formation of carboxyhemoglobin, impaired mitochondrial respiration, cardiotoxic reactions and tachyarrhythmias associated with the increased sympathetic tone are factors possibly intensifying myocardial infarction. A particularly important factor is that cannabis use is frequently accompanied by tobacco smoking. In conclusion, additional research is warranted to decipher the mechanisms involved, since cannabis use is being legalized increasingly and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol and its synthetic analogue nabilone are indicated for the treatment of various disease states.
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Barbieri M, Tirri M, Bilel S, Arfè R, Corli G, Marchetti B, Caruso L, Soukupova M, Cristofori V, Serpelloni G, Marti M. Synthetic cannabinoid JWH-073 alters both acute behavior and in vivo/vitro electrophysiological responses in mice. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:953909. [PMID: 36339851 PMCID: PMC9634257 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.953909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
JWH-073 is a synthetic cannabinoid (SCB) that is illegally marketed within an "herbal blend", causing psychoactive effects more intense than those produced by Cannabis. Users report that JWH-073 causes less harmful effects than other SCBs, misrepresenting it as a "safe JWH-018 alternative", which in turn prompts its recreational use. The present study is aimed to investigate the in vivo pharmacological activity on physiological and neurobehavioral parameters in male CD-1 mice after acute 1 mg/kg JWH-073 administration. To this aim we investigate its effect on sensorimotor (visual, acoustic, and tactile), motor (spontaneous motor activity and catalepsy), and memory functions (novel object recognition; NOR) in mice coupling behavioral and EEG data. Moreover, to clarify how memory function is affected by JWH-073, we performed in vitro electrophysiological studies in hippocampal preparations using a Long-Term Potentiation (LTP) stimulation paradigm. We demonstrated that acute administration of JWH-073 transiently decreased motor activity for up to 25 min and visual sensorimotor responses for up to 105 min, with the highest effects at 25 min (~48 and ~38%, respectively), while the memory function was altered up to 24 h (~33%) in treated-mice as compared to the vehicle. EEG in the somatosensory cortex showed a maximal decrease of α (~23%) and γ (~26%) bands at 15 min, β (~26%) band at 25 min, a maximal increase of θ (~14%) band at 25 min and δ (~35%) band at 2 h, and a significant decrease of θ (~18%), α (~26%), and β (~10%) bands during 24 h. On the other hand, EEG in the hippocampus showed a significant decrease of all bands from 10 min to 2 h, with the maximal effect at 30 min for θ (~34%) and γ (~26%) bands and 2 h for α (~36%), β (~29%), and δ (~15%) bands. Notably, the δ band significant increase both at 5 min (~12%) and 24 h (~19%). Moreover, in vitro results support cognitive function impairment (~60% of decrease) by interfering with hippocampal synaptic transmission and LTP generation. Our results suggest that JWH-073 deeply alters brain electrical responsiveness with minor behavioral symptoms. Thus, it poses a subtle threat to consumers who mistakenly consider it safer than other SCBs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Barbieri
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Micaela Tirri
- Department of Translational Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine and Laboratory for Technologies of Advanced Therapies (LTTA) Centre, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Sabrine Bilel
- Department of Translational Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine and Laboratory for Technologies of Advanced Therapies (LTTA) Centre, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Raffaella Arfè
- Department of Translational Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine and Laboratory for Technologies of Advanced Therapies (LTTA) Centre, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Giorgia Corli
- Department of Translational Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine and Laboratory for Technologies of Advanced Therapies (LTTA) Centre, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Beatrice Marchetti
- Department of Translational Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine and Laboratory for Technologies of Advanced Therapies (LTTA) Centre, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Caruso
- Department of Environment and Prevention Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Marie Soukupova
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Virginia Cristofori
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Giovanni Serpelloni
- Neuroscience Clinical Center and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Unit, Verona, Italy
| | - Matteo Marti
- Department of Translational Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine and Laboratory for Technologies of Advanced Therapies (LTTA) Centre, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.,Department for Anti-Drug Policies, Collaborative Center of the National Early Warning System, Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Rome, Italy
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5
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A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the In Vivo Haemodynamic Effects of Δ⁸-Tetrahydrocannabinol. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2018; 11:ph11010013. [PMID: 29385080 PMCID: PMC5874709 DOI: 10.3390/ph11010013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2017] [Revised: 01/25/2018] [Accepted: 01/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
∆9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) has complex effects on the cardiovascular system. We aimed to systematically review studies of THC and haemodynamic alterations. PubMed, Medline, and EMBASE were searched for relevant studies. Changes in blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), and blood flow (BF) were analysed using the Cochrane Review Manager Software. Thirty-one studies met the eligibility criteria. Fourteen publications assessed BP (number, n = 541), 22 HR (n = 567), and 3 BF (n = 45). Acute THC dosing reduced BP and HR in anaesthetised animals (BP, mean difference (MD) −19.7 mmHg, p < 0.00001; HR, MD −53.49 bpm, p < 0.00001), conscious animals (BP, MD −12.3 mmHg, p = 0.0007; HR, MD −30.05 bpm, p < 0.00001), and animal models of stress or hypertension (BP, MD −61.37 mmHg, p = 0.03) and increased cerebral BF in murine stroke models (MD 32.35%, p < 0.00001). Chronic dosing increased BF in large arteries in anaesthetised animals (MD 21.95 mL/min, p = 0.05) and reduced BP in models of stress or hypertension (MD −22.09 mmHg, p < 0.00001). In humans, acute administration increased HR (MD 8.16 bpm, p < 0.00001). THC acts differently according to species and experimental conditions, causing bradycardia, hypotension and increased BF in animals; and causing increased HR in humans. Data is limited, and further studies assessing THC-induced haemodynamic changes in humans should be considered.
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Boggs DL, Nguyen JD, Morgenson D, Taffe MA, Ranganathan M. Clinical and Preclinical Evidence for Functional Interactions of Cannabidiol and Δ 9-Tetrahydrocannabinol. Neuropsychopharmacology 2018; 43:142-154. [PMID: 28875990 PMCID: PMC5719112 DOI: 10.1038/npp.2017.209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 146] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2017] [Revised: 08/30/2017] [Accepted: 08/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The plant Cannabis sativa, commonly called cannabis or marijuana, has been used for its psychotropic and mind-altering side effects for millennia. There has been growing attention in recent years on its potential therapeutic efficacy as municipalities and legislative bodies in the United States, Canada, and other countries grapple with enacting policy to facilitate the use of cannabis or its constituents for medical purposes. There are >550 chemical compounds and >100 phytocannabinoids isolated from cannabis, including Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). THC is thought to produce the main psychoactive effects of cannabis, while CBD does not appear to have similar effects. Studies conflict as to whether CBD attenuates or exacerbates the behavioral and cognitive effects of THC. This includes effects of CBD on THC-induced anxiety, psychosis, and cognitive deficits. In this article, we review the available evidence on the pharmacology and behavioral interactions of THC and CBD from preclinical and human studies, particularly with reference to anxiety and psychosis-like symptoms. Both THC and CBD, as well as other cannabinoid molecules, are currently being evaluated for medicinal purposes, separately and in combination. Future cannabis-related policy decisions should include consideration of scientific findings, including the individual and interactive effects of CBD and THC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas L Boggs
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA,VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, USA
| | - Jacques D Nguyen
- Department of Neuroscience; The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | | | - Michael A Taffe
- Department of Neuroscience; The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Mohini Ranganathan
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA,VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, USA,Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, 950 Campbell Avenue, New Haven, CT 06511, USA, Tel: +1 203 932 5711X2546, E-mail:
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Heckle MR, Nayyar M, Sinclair SE, Weber KT. Cannabinoids and Symptomatic Bradycardia. Am J Med Sci 2017; 355:3-5. [PMID: 29289259 DOI: 10.1016/j.amjms.2017.03.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2017] [Accepted: 03/20/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Cannabinoids, the bioactive components of marijuana, have adverse cardiovascular consequences, including symptomatic sinus bradycardia, sinus arrest and ventricular asystole. Physicians should be aware of these deleterious consequences which can appear in otherwise healthy persons who are chronic marijuana users.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Scott E Sinclair
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee
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8
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Nguyen JD, Aarde SM, Vandewater SA, Grant Y, Stouffer DG, Parsons LH, Cole M, Taffe MA. Inhaled delivery of Δ(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) to rats by e-cigarette vapor technology. Neuropharmacology 2016; 109:112-120. [PMID: 27256501 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2016.05.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2016] [Revised: 05/24/2016] [Accepted: 05/29/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Most human Δ(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) use is via inhalation, and yet few animal studies of inhalation exposure are available. Popularization of non-combusted methods for the inhalation of psychoactive drugs (Volcano(®), e-cigarettes) further stimulates a need for rodent models of this route of administration. This study was designed to develop and validate a rodent chamber suitable for controlled exposure to vaporized THC in a propylene glycol vehicle, using an e-cigarette delivery system adapted to standard size, sealed rat housing chambers. The in vivo efficacy of inhaled THC was validated using radiotelemetry to assess body temperature and locomotor responses, a tail-flick assay for nociception and plasma analysis to verify exposure levels. Hypothermic responses to inhaled THC in male rats depended on the duration of exposure and the concentration of THC in the vehicle. The temperature nadir was reached after ∼40 min of exposure, was of comparable magnitude (∼3 °Celsius) to that produced by 20 mg/kg THC, i.p. and resolved within 3 h (compared with a 6 h time course following i.p. THC). Female rats were more sensitive to hypothermic effects of 30 min of lower-dose THC inhalation. Male rat tail-flick latency was increased by THC vapor inhalation; this effect was blocked by SR141716 pretreatment. The plasma THC concentration after 30 min of inhalation was similar to that produced by 10 mg/kg THC i.p. This approach is flexible, robust and effective for use in laboratory rats and will be of increasing utility as users continue to adopt "vaping" for the administration of cannabis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacques D Nguyen
- Committee on the Neurobiology of Addictive Disorders, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Shawn M Aarde
- Committee on the Neurobiology of Addictive Disorders, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Sophia A Vandewater
- Committee on the Neurobiology of Addictive Disorders, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Yanabel Grant
- Committee on the Neurobiology of Addictive Disorders, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - David G Stouffer
- Committee on the Neurobiology of Addictive Disorders, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Loren H Parsons
- Committee on the Neurobiology of Addictive Disorders, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Maury Cole
- La Jolla Alcohol Research, Inc, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Michael A Taffe
- Committee on the Neurobiology of Addictive Disorders, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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Ginsburg BC, Hruba L, Zaki A, Javors M, McMahon LR. Blood levels do not predict behavioral or physiological effects of Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol in rhesus monkeys with different patterns of exposure. Drug Alcohol Depend 2014; 139:1-8. [PMID: 24703610 PMCID: PMC4251811 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2014.02.696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2013] [Revised: 02/19/2014] [Accepted: 02/20/2014] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent changes in the legality of cannabis have prompted evaluation of whether blood levels of Δ(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or its metabolites could be used to substantiate impairment, particularly related to behavioral tasks such as driving. However, because marked tolerance develops to behavioral effects of THC, the applicability of a particular threshold of blood THC as an index of impairment in people with different patterns of use remains unclear. Studies relevant to this issue are difficult to accomplish in humans, as prior drug exposure is difficult to control. METHODS Here, effects of THC to decrease rectal temperature and operant response rate compared to levels of THC and its metabolites were studied in blood in two groups of monkeys: one received intermittent treatment with THC (0.1 mg/kg i.v. every 3-4 days) and another received chronic THC (1 mg/kg/12 h s.c.) for several years. RESULTS In monkeys with intermittent THC exposure, a single dose of THC (3.2 mg/kg s.c.) decreased rectal temperature and response rate. The same dose did not affect response rate or rectal temperature in chronically exposed monkeys, indicative of greater tolerance. In both groups, blood levels of THC peaked 20-60 min post-injection and had a similar half-life of elimination, indicating no tolerance to the pharmacokinetics of THC. Notably, in both groups, the behavioral effects of THC were not apparent when blood levels were maximal (20-min post-administration). CONCLUSION These data indicate that thresholds for blood levels of THC do not provide a consistent index of behavioral impairment across individuals with different patterns of THC exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brett C. Ginsburg
- Department of Pharmacology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA 78229,Department of Psychiatry, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA 78229
| | - Lenka Hruba
- Department of Pharmacology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA 78229
| | - Armia Zaki
- Department of Pharmacology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA 78229
| | - Martin Javors
- Department of Pharmacology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA 78229,Department of Psychiatry, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA 78229
| | - Lance R. McMahon
- Department of Pharmacology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA 78229
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Taffe MA. Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol attenuates MDMA-induced hyperthermia in rhesus monkeys. Neuroscience 2011; 201:125-33. [PMID: 22138434 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2011.11.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2011] [Revised: 11/01/2011] [Accepted: 11/16/2011] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cannabis is commonly consumed by Ecstasy (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine; MDMA) users, including as an intentional strategy to manipulate the drug experience. The most active psychoactive constituent in cannabis, Δ(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and other drugs with partial or full agonist activity at the CB(1) receptor, produces a reduction of body temperature in rodents. Reports show that administration of THC can attenuate temperature increases caused by MDMA in mice or rats; however, a recent study in humans shows that THC potentiates MDMA-induced temperature elevations. Relatively little scientific evidence on the thermoregulatory effects of THC in monkeys is available. METHODS The body temperature of male rhesus macaques was recorded after challenge with THC (0.1-0.3 mg/kg, i.m.) or combined challenge of THC with the CB(1) receptor antagonist SR141716 (Rimonabant; 0.3 mg/kg, i.m.) or combined challenge of THC (0.1, 0.3 mg/kg, i.m.) with MDMA (1.78 mg/kg p.o.) using minimally-invasive, implanted radiotelemetry techniques. RESULTS THC reduced the body temperature of monkeys in a dose-dependent manner with the nadir observed 3-5 h post-injection; however, an attenuation of normal circadian cooling was also produced overnight following dosing. Hypothermia induced by THC (0.3 mg/kg, i.m.) was prevented by Rimonabant (0.3 mg/kg, i.m.). Finally, 0.3 mg/kg THC (i.m.) attenuated the elevation of body temperature produced by MDMA for about 4 h after oral dosing. CONCLUSIONS As with rodents THC produces a robust and lasting decrement in the body temperature of rhesus monkeys; this effect is mediated by the CB(1) receptor. THC also protects against the immediate hyperthermic effects of MDMA in monkeys in a dose-dependent manner. Nevertheless, a paradoxical attenuation of circadian cooling overnight after the THC/MDMA combination cautions that longer-term effects may be critical in assessing risks for the recreational user of cannabis in combination with MDMA.
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Affiliation(s)
- M A Taffe
- Committee on the Neurobiology of Addictive Disorders, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
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Benamar K, Yondorf M, Geller EB, Eisenstein TK, Adler MW. Physiological evidence for interaction between the HIV-1 co-receptor CXCR4 and the cannabinoid system in the brain. Br J Pharmacol 2009; 157:1225-31. [PMID: 19558543 DOI: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.2009.00285.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The chemokine, stromal cell-derived growth factor-1alpha (SDF-1alpha/CXCL12), a member of the CXC chemokine family, and the ligand for CXCR4, the co-receptor involved in the entry of human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1), was tested for its possible interaction with a physiological response to a cannabinoid. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH The cannabinoid agonist, an aminoalkylindole, (+)-WIN 55,212-2 [(4,5-dihydro-2-methyl-4(4-morpholinylmethyl)-1-(1-naphthalenyl-carbonyl)-6H-pyrrolo[3,2,1ij]quinolin-6-one], was infused directly into the preoptic anterior hypothalamus (POAH), the primary brain area involved in thermoregulation. KEY RESULTS WIN 55,212-2 (5-15 microg) evoked a dose-related hypothermia, which was attenuated by SDF-1alpha/CXCL12 microinjected directly into the POAH. The inhibitory effect of SDF-1alpha/CXCL12 on WIN 55,212-2-induced hypothermia was reversed by 1,1'-[1,4-phenylenebis(methylene)]bis[1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane] octohydrobromide dihydrate, an antagonist of SDF-1alpha/CXCL12, acting at its receptor, CXCR4. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS This study provides the first in vivo evidence for a thermoregulatory interaction between the HIV-1 co-receptor and the cannabinoid system in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khalid Benamar
- Center for Substance Abuse Research, Temple University School of Medicine, 3400 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA.
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McMahon LR, Amin MR, France CP. SR 141716A differentially attenuates the behavioral effects of delta9-THC in rhesus monkeys. Behav Pharmacol 2006; 16:363-72. [PMID: 16148440 DOI: 10.1097/00008877-200509000-00008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The prototypic cannabinoid CB1 antagonist SR 141716A is one important pharmacologic tool for examining CB1 receptors that mediate the behavioral and physiologic effects of delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta9-THC). This study examined the effects of SR 141716A on the rate-decreasing, hypothermic and discriminative stimulus effects of delta9-THC in rhesus monkeys. In monkeys (n=4) responding under a multiple fixed ratio (FR-10:FR-10) schedule of food presentation and stimulus-shock termination, the potency of i.m. delta9-THC to decrease responding in the food component (ED50=0.64 mg/kg) was threefold greater than its potency in the stimulus-shock termination component (ED50=2.14 mg/kg). In the same monkeys, hypothermia was induced by delta9-THC at a dose (e.g. 0.32 mg/kg) that did not alter responding in either schedule component; the maximum decrease was 2.1 degrees C at a dose of 3.2 mg/kg. A dose of 0.32 mg/kg of SR 141716A, significantly attenuated delta9-THC-induced hypothermia without attenuating the rate-decreasing effects of delta9-THC in either component of the multiple schedule. The largest dose of i.m. SR 141716A that was studied, 1.0 mg/kg, significantly decreased rectal temperature and responding in the food component but did not significantly decrease responding in the stimulus-shock termination component of the multiple schedule. In a separate group of monkeys (n=3) that discriminated i.v. delta9-THC (0.1 mg/kg) while responding under an FR-5 schedule of stimulus-shock termination, SR 141716A (0.32 and 1 mg/kg) significantly increased the ED50 of the delta9-THC by 2.3- and 3.7-fold, respectively. Collectively, these results demonstrate that the behavioral effects of delta9-THC are not equally attenuated by SR 141716A.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Behavior, Animal/drug effects
- Behavior, Animal/physiology
- Body Temperature/drug effects
- Discrimination, Psychological/drug effects
- Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
- Dronabinol/pharmacology
- Female
- Macaca mulatta
- Male
- Piperidines/pharmacology
- Pyrazoles/pharmacology
- Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1/agonists
- Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1/antagonists & inhibitors
- Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1/physiology
- Rimonabant
- Time Factors
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Affiliation(s)
- L R McMahon
- Department of Pharmacology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229-3900, USA.
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Abstract
Research of cannabinoid actions was boosted in the 1990s by remarkable discoveries including identification of endogenous compounds with cannabimimetic activity (endocannabinoids) and the cloning of their molecular targets, the CB1 and CB2 receptors. Although the existence of an endogenous cannabinoid signaling system has been established for a decade, its physiological roles have just begun to unfold. In addition, the behavioral effects of exogenous cannabinoids such as delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, the major active compound of hashish and marijuana, await explanation at the cellular and network levels. Recent physiological, pharmacological, and high-resolution anatomical studies provided evidence that the major physiological effect of cannabinoids is the regulation of neurotransmitter release via activation of presynaptic CB1 receptors located on distinct types of axon terminals throughout the brain. Subsequent discoveries shed light on the functional consequences of this localization by demonstrating the involvement of endocannabinoids in retrograde signaling at GABAergic and glutamatergic synapses. In this review, we aim to synthesize recent progress in our understanding of the physiological roles of endocannabinoids in the brain. First, the synthetic pathways of endocannabinoids are discussed, along with the putative mechanisms of their release, uptake, and degradation. The fine-grain anatomical distribution of the neuronal cannabinoid receptor CB1 is described in most brain areas, emphasizing its general presynaptic localization and role in controlling neurotransmitter release. Finally, the possible functions of endocannabinoids as retrograde synaptic signal molecules are discussed in relation to synaptic plasticity and network activity patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamas F Freund
- Institute of Experimental Medicine, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest 8, Szigony u.43, H-1083 Hungary.
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POSTER COMMUNICATIONS. Br J Pharmacol 1994. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1994.tb16303.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
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