title: Effects of chronic treatment with delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol on cannabinoid-stimulated [35S]GTPgammaS autoradiography in rat brain.
abstract: Chronic Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta9-THC) administration produces tolerance to cannabinoid effects, but alterations in signal transduction that mediate these changes are not yet known. The present study uses in vitro autoradiography of agonist-stimulated [35S]GTPgammaS binding to localize cannabinoid receptor-activated G-proteins after chronic Delta9-THC treatment. Cannabinoid (WIN 55212-2)-stimulated [35S]GTPgammaS binding was performed in brain sections from rats treated chronically with 10 mg/kg Delta9-THC for 21 d. Control animals received saline or an acute injection of Delta9-THC. Acute Delta9-THC treatment had no effect on basal or WIN 55212-2-stimulated [35S]GTPgammaS binding. After chronic Delta9-THC treatment, net WIN 55212-2-stimulated [35S]GTPgammaS binding was reduced significantly (up to 70%) in most brain regions, including the hippocampus, caudate-putamen, perirhinal and entorhinal cortex, globus pallidus, substantia nigra, and cerebellum. In contrast, chronic Delta9-THC treatment had no effect on GABAB-stimulated [35S]GTPgammaS binding. In membranes and brain sections, Delta9-THC was a partial agonist, stimulating [35S]GTPgammaS by only 20% of the level stimulated by WIN 55212-2 and inhibiting WIN 55212-2-stimulated [35S]GTPgammaS at high concentrations. Because the EC50 of WIN 55212-2-stimulated [35S]GTPgammaS binding and the KD of cannabinoid receptor binding were unchanged by chronic Delta9-THC treatment, the partial agonist actions of Delta9-THC did not produce the decrease in cannabinoid-stimulated [35S]GTPgammaS binding. These results suggest that profound desensitization of cannabinoid-activated signal transduction mechanisms occurs after chronic Delta9-THC treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Center for the Neurobiological Investigation of Drug Abuse, Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27157, USA.
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Sim
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Hampson
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Deadwyler
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Childers
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001345:Autoradiography; D048588:Benzoxazines; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D002186:Cannabinoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000378:metabolism; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016244:Guanosine 5'-O-(3-Thiotriphosphate) / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009025:Morpholines / Q000494:pharmacology; D009281:Naphthalenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D018080:Receptors, GABA-B / Q000502:physiology; D013462:Sulfur Radioisotopes; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D048588:Benzoxazines; D002186:Cannabinoids; D009025:Morpholines; D009281:Naphthalenes; D018080:Receptors, GABA-B; D013462:Sulfur Radioisotopes; D016244:Guanosine 5'-O-(3-Thiotriphosphate); C070417:(3R)-((2,3-dihydro-5-methyl-3-((4-morpholinyl)methyl)pyrrolo-(1,2,3-de)-1,4-benzoxazin-6-yl)(1-naphthalenyl))methanone; D013759:Dronabinol