title: A role of nitric oxide in WIN 55,212-2 tolerance in mice.
abstract: The role of nitric oxide (NO) in the development of cannabinoid tolerance was examined by using N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) as an inhibitor of NO synthase. R(+)-[2,3-Dihydro-5-methyl-3 [(morpholinyl)methyl]pyrrolo[1,2,3-de]-1,4-benzoxazin-yl]-(1-napht halenyl)methanone mesylate (WIN 55,212-2), a cannabinoid receptor agonist, or L-NAME plus WIN 55,212-2 was acutely or chronically injected i.p. to mice and analgesia, body temperature and immobility were measured. A single injection of WIN 55,212-2 induced time- and dose-dependent analgesia, hypothermia and catalepsy. L-NAME (50 mg/kg), which per se was ineffective, administered 20 min before WIN 55,212-2 did not modify the analgesic, hypothermic and cataleptic responses to the cannabinoid. When WIN 55,212-2 was administered once a day, the animals became completely tolerant to the analgesic, hypothermic and cataleptic effects within five, seven and nine days respectively. L-NAME injected once daily 20 min before WIN 55,212-2 inhibited the development of tolerance to the hypothermic and cataleptic actions but not to the analgesic action of WIN 55,212-2. Since L-NAME given chronically by itself did not modify the analgesia, hypothermia and catalepsy induced by acute administration of WIN 55,212-2, our findings suggest L-NAME acts with some selectivity on the mechanisms involved in cannabinoid tolerance.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmacology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Spina
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Trovati
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Parolaro
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Giagnoni
mesh_terms: D000700:Analgesics / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D048588:Benzoxazines; D004361:Drug Tolerance; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009025:Morpholines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000494:pharmacology; D009281:Naphthalenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000502:physiology*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D043882:Receptors, Cannabinoid; D011955:Receptors, Drug / Q000819:agonists*
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D048588:Benzoxazines; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D009025:Morpholines; D009281:Naphthalenes; D043882:Receptors, Cannabinoid; D011955:Receptors, Drug; D009569:Nitric Oxide; C070417:(3R)-((2,3-dihydro-5-methyl-3-((4-morpholinyl)methyl)pyrrolo-(1,2,3-de)-1,4-benzoxazin-6-yl)(1-naphthalenyl))methanone; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester