Acute blockade of CB1 receptor leads to reinstatement of MDMA-induced conditioned place preference.
Manuel Daza‐losada, José Miñarro, María A. Aguilar, Olga Valverde, Marta Rodríguez‐arias
Pharmacology, biochemistry, and behavior November 2011 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2011.07.011 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Experimental study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Mice |
| Interventions | MDMA WIN 55 212-2 SR 141716A |
| Dose | MDMA 5 mg/kg, WIN 55,212-2 0.1 and 0.5 mg/kg, SR 141716A 0.3 mg/kg |
| Measures | conditioned place preference (CPP) |
| Topics | MDMA |
| Key findings | The CB1 antagonist SR 141716A (0.3 mg/kg) alone or with MDMA priming reinstated the MDMA-induced CPP, while the CB1 agonist WIN 55,212-2 had no effect alone but potentiated the effects of subthreshold priming doses of MDMA. |
Abstract
Cannabis is one of the drugs most commonly consumed in combination with ecstasy (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, MDMA). Although numerous studies have attempted to further our understanding of the role of the cannabinoid system in drug abuse, few have focused on how it influences the rewarding effects of MDMA. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the role of the CB1 cannabinoid receptor in vulnerability to reinstatement of a MDMA-induced conditioned place preference (CPP). Mice were first conditioned with 5mg/kg of MDMA. Once the preference had been extinguished, a priming dose of MDMA, alone or plus the CB1 cannabinoid agonist WIN 55,212-2 (0.1 and 0.5mg/kg) or the CB1 cannabinoid antagonist SR 141716A (0.3mg/kg), was administered on alternate days. The CB1 receptor antagonist, alone or with any of the priming doses of MDMA, induced reinstatement of the preference. In contrast, WIN 55,212-2 had no effect on reinstatement of the MDMA-induced CPP when administered alone, but potentiated the effects of subthreshold priming doses of MDMA. These results highlight the important role of the CB1 receptor in vulnerability to reinstatement of drug-seeking behavior and point to the importance of the endocannabinoid system in the addictive potential of MDMA.