title: Cannabinoid and heroin activation of mesolimbic dopamine transmission by a common mu1 opioid receptor mechanism.
abstract: The effects of the active ingredient of Cannabis, Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta9-THC), and of the highly addictive drug heroin on in vivo dopamine transmission in the nucleus accumbens were compared in Sprague-Dawley rats by brain microdialysis. Delta9-THC and heroin increased extracellular dopamine concentrations selectively in the shell of the nucleus accumbens; these effects were mimicked by the synthetic cannabinoid agonist WIN55212-2. SR141716A, an antagonist of central cannabinoid receptors, prevented the effects of Delta9-THC but not those of heroin. Naloxone, a generic opioid antagonist, administered systemically, or naloxonazine, an antagonist of micro1 opioid receptors, infused into the ventral tegmentum, prevented the action of cannabinoids and heroin on dopamine transmission. Thus, Delta9-THC and heroin exert similar effects on mesolimbic dopamine transmission through a common mu1 opioid receptor mechanism located in the ventral mesencephalic tegmentum.
authors.affiliation: Department of Toxicology and Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Center for Neuropharmacology, University of Cagliari, Viale A. Diaz 182, 09126 Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tanda
authors.forename: F E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Pontieri
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Chiara
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D048588:Benzoxazines; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003932:Heroin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D017551:Microdialysis; D009025:Morpholines / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D009270:Naloxone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D009281:Naphthalenes / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D009714:Nucleus Accumbens / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D010880:Piperidines / Q000494:pharmacology; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D043882:Receptors, Cannabinoid; D011955:Receptors, Drug / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D000077285:Rimonabant
chemical_list: D048588:Benzoxazines; D009025:Morpholines; D009281:Naphthalenes; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D010880:Piperidines; D011720:Pyrazoles; D043882:Receptors, Cannabinoid; D011955:Receptors, Drug; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu; D009270:Naloxone; C070417:(3R)-((2,3-dihydro-5-methyl-3-((4-morpholinyl)methyl)pyrrolo-(1,2,3-de)-1,4-benzoxazin-6-yl)(1-naphthalenyl))methanone; D003932:Heroin; D013759:Dronabinol; C034643:naloxonazine; D000077285:Rimonabant; D004298:Dopamine