Psychopharmacology
February 2014
Torbjörn U C Järbe, Brian J LeMay, Aneetha Halikhedkar et al.
The "subjective high" from marijuana ingestion is likely due to Δ(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) activating the central cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1R) of the endocannabinoid signaling system. THC is a weak partial agonist according to in vitro assays, yet THC mimics the behavioral effects induced by more efficacious cannabinergics. This distinction may be important for understanding...
Psychopharmacology
March 2012
Torbjörn U C Järbe, Sherrica Tai, Brian J LeMay et al.
The endocannabinoid signaling system (ECS) has been targeted for developing novel therapeutics since ECS dysfunction has been implicated in various pathologies. Current focus is on chemical modifications of the hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) nabilone (Cesamet(®)). To characterize the novel, high-affinity cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB(1)R) HHC-ligand AM2389...
Behavioural Pharmacology
September 2011
Torbjörn U C Järbe, Hongfen Deng, Subramanian K Vadivel et al.
We examined four different cannabinergic aminoalkylindole ligands, including one drug (AM678=JWH018) found in herbal 'Spice' concoctions, for their ability to substitute for Δ(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and the ability of the cannabinoid receptor 1-selective antagonist/inverse agonist rimonabant to block the substitution, 30 and 90 min after intraperitoneal injection. Rats trained to...
European Journal of Pharmacology
December 1, 2010
Torbjörn U C Järbe, Roger S Gifford, Alexandros Makriyannis
The objective was to examine the time course of the cannabinoid 1 receptor antagonist/inverse agonist rimonabant's ability to antagonize in vivo cannabinergic agonist effects. We used two behavioral procedures sensitive to the effects of ∆⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (∆⁹-THC): rat drug discrimination (EXP-1) and suppression of fixed-ratio responding (FR) for food reinforcement (EXP-2). Two training...
Psychopharmacology
April 2009
Torbjörn U C Järbe, Chen Li, Qian Liu et al.
To characterize in vivo the high-affinity CB(1) cannabinoid receptor (CB(1)R) selective anandamide analog AM1346 [alkoxyacid amide of N-eicosa-tetraenylamine] using drug discrimination. Substitution tests involved Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta(9)-THC) and R-(+)-methanandamide (mAEA), a metabolically stable analog of anandamide (AEA), as well as the CB(1)R antagonist/inverse agonist...
Psychopharmacology
August 2001
Torbjörn U C Järbe, R J Lamb, S Lin et al.
(R)-methanandamide (AM-356), a metabolically more stable chiral analog of the endocannabinoid ligand anandamide, was used as a representative of fatty acid ethanolamide CB1 receptor ligands to characterize the discriminative stimulus functions of anandamides. Rats discriminated between 10 mg/kg (R)-methanandamide and vehicle administered IP 15 min prior to session onset. Another group of rats...
Psychopharmacology
December 1998
Torbjörn U C Järbe, R J Lamb, Alexandros Makriyannis et al.
The objective of this study was to examine if (R)-methanandamide, a metabolically stable chiral analog of the endogenous ligand anandamide, is a cannabimimetic with a lower efficacy than delta9-THC. Employing a two-lever choice drug discrimination procedure, rats were trained to discriminate between 1.8, 3.0, or 5.6 mg/kg delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta9-THC) and vehicle. Different training...
Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior
January 1994
Torbjörn U C Järbe, R Mechoulam, J Zahalka
The cannabimimetic activity of the two enantiomers of 11-hydroxy-delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol (11-OH-delta-8-THC) was evaluated in pigeons trained to discriminate between the presence and absence of (-)-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol [(-)-delta-9-THC]. (-)-11-OH-Delta-8-THC exhibited cannabimimetic activity with a potency (ED50, 0.17 mg/kg) similar to that of delta-9-THC. The duration of action...
Neuropharmacology
February 1986
A J Hiltunen, Torbjörn U C Järbe
Animals (rats and pigeons) were trained to discriminate between the presence and absence of delta 9-THC; the training doses were, respectively: 0.56 mg/kg (pigeons) and 3.0 mg/kg (rats). Once the drug discrimination was mastered, the pigeons were tested repeatedly after a single intramuscular (i.m.) injection of delta 9-THC (0.56 mg/kg) at the following intervals 0.5, 1.5, 4.5 and 9 hr after...
Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior
October 1980
Torbjörn U C Järbe
Pigeons (N=4) were trained to discriminate between the effects induced by intramuscular (IM) injections of d-LSD and saline using a discrete-trial discrimination paradigm (choice between left and right hand key) in a conventional operant box. The solutions were administered IM 15 min prior to the sessions. A FR 15 schedule was in operation to produce food. Which of the two keys was correct on a...
Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior
1975
B G Henriksson, J O Johansson, Torbjörn U C Järbe
In an operant situation pigeons learned to peck one response key 90 min after an injection of 0.25mg/kg delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta9-THC) and another key when trained nondrugged. When tested with doses of delta9-THC lwer than the training dose the birds disciminated 0.20 mg/kg of the drug from the nondrugged state but not 0.15 mg/kg or lower doses. The animals were able to discriminate...