The cannabinoid CB1 receptor antagonist SR141716A attenuates the memory impairment produced by delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol or anandamide
by
Mallet PE, Beninger RJ
Department of Psychology,
Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
gardner@aecom.yu.edu
Psychopharmacology (Berl) 1998 Nov; 140(1):11-9

ABSTRACT

The administration of delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the principle psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, or the endogenous cannabinoid anandamide, has been shown to impair recent memory. The purpose of the present investigation was to determine if the cannabinoid CB1 receptor antagonist SR141716A could attenuate THC- or anandamide-induced memory impairment, and to assess the effects on memory of SR141716A alone. Memory was assessed in rats well-trained in a two-component instrumental discrimination task, consisting of a conditional discrimination, and a non-match-to-position to assess recent or working memory. SR141716A (0.0-2.0 mg/kg) had no effect on either the conditional discrimination or the non-match-to-position. However, SR141716A (0.0-2.0 mg/kg) attenuated the memory impairment produced by THC (2.0 or 4.0 mg/kg) as indexed by an enhancement of performance in the non-match-to-position. When administered to rats pretreated with anandamide (2.0 mg/kg), SR141716A (0.0-2.5 mg/kg) impaired performance in the conditional discrimination at the highest dose. This was interpreted as a deficit in some capacity unrelated to memory (e.g., motor impairment). However, lower doses of SR141716A (0.1 and 0.5 mg/kg) attenuated the anandamide-induced impairment of performance in the non-match-to-position without affecting the conditional discrimination. This is the first report that the memory impairment produced by anandamide can be attenuated by a cannabinoid antagonist; results suggest that anandamide-induced memory disruption is mediated by CB receptors.

Cannabis
Drobaminol
Dumb drugs
Cannabinoids
Medical cannabis
Stoned chocaholics?
Cannabis and opioids
Cannabis and memory
Cannabis: pharmacology
Acute and residual effects
Cannabis as an antidepressant
Nicotine and the cannabinoid system

Refs
HOME
HedWeb
Cannabis.net
Future Opioids
BLTC Research
Paradise-Engineering
The Hedonistic Imperative
When Is It Best To Take Crack Cocaine?

The Good Drug Guide
The Responsible Parent's Guide
To Healthy Mood Boosters For All The Family