Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior
October 2011
Wael M.Y. Mohamed, Sami Ben Hamida, Jean-Christophe Cassel et al.
3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy) is one of the most widely abused illegal drugs. Some users self-report euphoria and an increased perception and feeling of closeness to others. When taken in warm environments, MDMA users may develop acute complications with potential fatal consequences. In rodents, MDMA increases locomotor activity and, depending on ambient temperature, may...
Journal of Biological Chemistry
September 23, 2011
Joong-Youn Shim, Alexander C Bertalovitz, Debra A Kendall
The classical cannabinoid agonist HU210, a structural analog of (-)-Δ(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol, binds to brain cannabinoid (CB1) receptors and activates signal transduction pathways. To date, an exact molecular description of the CB1 receptor is not yet available. Utilizing the minor binding pocket of the CB1 receptor as the primary ligand interaction site, we explored HU210 binding using lipid...
British Journal of Pharmacology
September 2011
Jennifer L. Stewart, Lance R Mcmahon
The fatty acid amide hydrolase inhibitor URB 597 increases brain anandamide levels, suggesting that URB 597 could enhance the behavioural effects of anandamide. The goal of the current study was to examine and characterize the in vivo pharmacology of URB 597 alone and in combination with anandamide and Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ⁹ -THC) in two drug discrimination assays in rhesus monkeys. The...
Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie up2date
August 18, 2011
Euphrosyne Gouzoulis‐mayfrank
All articles of this category Kernaussagen Psychotische Rauschverläufe und rauschüberdauernde drogeninduzierte Psychosen kommen bei einer Vielzahl von Drogen vor, die über verschiedene pharmakologische Akutmechanismen wirken. Hierzu gehören Cannabis, Stimulanzien, Ecstasy und Halluzinogene. In der Regel lässt sich aus klinischen und experimentellen Befunden eine Dosisabhängigkeit ableiten,...
Drug and Alcohol Dependence
August 10, 2011
Ryan Vandrey, Kelly E Dunn, Jeannie A Fry et al.
Background: Synthetic cannabinoids are a rapidly emerging class of abused drugs. Synthetic cannabinoids are typically sold as "herbal blends" or "incense," commonly referred to as Spice products. No controlled human experiments have been conducted on the effects of Spice products or the synthetic cannabinoids they often contain. Methods: An internet-based survey study was conducted with adults...
Psychopharmacology
August 1, 2011
Adrian P. Burgess, Louise Venables, Helena Jones et al.
26 citations
Objectives Ecstasy is a recreational drug whose active ingredient, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), acts predominantly on the serotonergic system. Although MDMA is known to be neurotoxic in animals, the long-term effects of recreational Ecstasy use in humans remain controversial but one commonly reported consequence is mild cognitive impairment particularly affecting verbal episodic...
Oxford University Press eBooks
July 28, 2011
Jörg Fachner
7 citations
This chapter discusses the psychedelic effects of drugs (mainly cannabis) on the perception and performance of music, and in particular how such drugs influence time perception in the process of performance. It focuses both on scientific studies and on anecdotal evidence provided by musicians and observers of musicians using drugs. Most of the material relates to developments in the American...
Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience
July 22, 2011
C. Zanettini, Leigh V Panlilio, M. Aliczki et al.
Cannabis has long been known to produce cognitive and emotional effects. Research has shown that cannabinoid drugs produce these effects by driving the brain’s endogenous cannabinoid system and that this system plays a modulatory role in many cognitive and emotional processes. This review focuses on the effects of endocannabinoid system modulation in animal models of cognition (learning and...
Addiction Biology
July 2011
Zuzana Justinova, Sergi Ferré, Godfrey H Redhi et al.
Several recent studies suggest functional and molecular interactions between striatal adenosine A(2A) and cannabinoid CB(1) receptors. Here, we demonstrate that A(2A) receptors selectively modulate reinforcing effects of cannabinoids. We studied effects of A(2A) receptor blockade on the reinforcing effects of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and the endogenous CB(1) receptor ligand anandamide...
Journal of basic and clinical physiology and pharmacology
June 17, 2011
Tatiana Bregman, Ester Fride
Substantial data have been accumulated regarding the molecular basis of cystic fibrosis (CF) pathogenesis, whereas the influence of biochemical impairments on brain processes has been the focus of much less attention. We have studied some behavioral parameters, such as motor activity and anxiety level, in a mice model of CF. We have assumed that functioning of the endocannabinoid system could...