Influence of the anabolic-androgenic steroid nandrolone on cannabinoid dependence.
Evelyne Célérier, Therese Ahdepil, Helena Wikander, Fernando Berrendero, Fred Nyberg, Rafaël Maldonado
Neuropharmacology June 2006 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2005.11.017 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Preclinical experimental study in mice Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Mice |
| Interventions | Nandrolone Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) rimonabant (SR141617A) |
| Duration | Nandrolone pre-exposure for 14 days before THC treatment; nandrolone co-administration 1 hour before each THC injection |
| Measures | conditioned place preference, somatic withdrawal signs, antinociception, hypothermia, hypolocomotion, lit/dark box, open field, elevated plus-maze, CB1 receptor binding, GTP-binding protein activation |
| Topics | Addiction |
| Key findings | Chronic nandrolone treatment in mice blocked THC- and food-induced conditioned place preference and increased somatic signs of rimonabant-precipitated THC withdrawal, while leaving THC's acute effects, tolerance, and aversive effects unchanged. Nandrolone pre-exposure also attenuated the anxiolytic-like effect of a low THC dose without altering the anxiogenic-like effect of a high dose. The authors suggest these behavioral changes relate to cannabinoid addictive properties. |
Abstract
The identification of the possible factors that might enhance the risk of developing drug addiction and related motivational disorders is crucial to reduce the prevalence of these problems. Here, we examined in mice whether the exposure to the anabolic-androgenic steroid nandrolone would affect the pharmacological and motivational effects induced by Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the principal psychoactive component of Cannabis sativa. Mice received nandrolone using pre-exposure (during 14days before THC treatment) or co-administration (1h before each THC injection) procedures. Both nandrolone treatments did not modify the acute antinociceptive, hypothermic and hypolocomotor effects of THC or the development of tolerance after chronic THC administration. Nandrolone pre-exposure blocked THC- and food-induced conditioned place preference and increased the somatic manifestations of THC withdrawal precipitated by the CB1 cannabinoid antagonist rimonabant (SR141617A). The aversive effects of THC were not changed by nandrolone. Furthermore, nandrolone pre-exposure attenuated the anxiolytic-like effects of a low dose of THC without altering the anxiogenic-like effects of a high dose in the lit/dark box, open field and elevated plus-maze. Biochemical experiments showed that chronic nandrolone treatment did not modify CB1 receptor binding and GTP-binding protein activation in the caudate-putamen and cerebellum. Taken together, our results suggest that chronic nandrolone treatment alters behavioural responses related to cannabinoid addictive properties.
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| Effects of ibogaine on acute signs of morphine withdrawal in rats: independence from tremor. Morphine-dependent rats | 1992 | Randomized controlled trial | |
| Structure-based discovery of conformationally selective inhibitors of the serotonin transporter. Mice | 2023 | Computational docking and experimental validation | |
| Reinforcing Effects of MDMA (‘Ecstasy’) in Drug-Naive and Cocaine-Trained Rats Rats | 2001 | Experimental study |
Citations in the library
Cited by 3
- Effects of Δ9-THC and Type-1 Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists in the Elevated Plus Maze Test of Anxiety: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research February 2023
- Acute and long-term effects of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol on object recognition and anxiety-like activity are age- and strain-dependent in mice. Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior December 2017
- Sub-chronic nandrolone treatment modifies neurochemical and behavioral effects of amphetamine and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) in rats. Behavioural Brain Research May 16, 2008