title: Effects of SR141716A on diazepam substitution for delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol in rat drug discrimination.
abstract: Interaction of cannabinoids with GABAergic systems has been noted in a number of previous studies. In the present study, this interaction was examined in a drug-discrimination paradigm. Rats were trained to discriminate either delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta9-THC; 3 mg/kg) or diazepam (2.5 mg/kg) from vehicle in two-lever drug discrimination procedures for food reinforcement. As in previous studies, diazepam partially substituted for delta9-THC, but only at high doses that also decreased response rates. In contrast, delta9-THC did not substitute for diazepam in any of the rats. Hence, cross-generalization of these two drugs was asymmetrical. When tested in combination with diazepam, the brain cannabinoid (CB1) receptor antagonist SR141716A did not block the partial substitution of diazepam for delta9-THC, nor did it antagonize the discriminative stimulus effects of diazepam in diazepam-trained rats. These results suggest that the partial overlap in the discriminative stimulus effects of delta9-THC and diazepam is not mediated by diazepam action at CB1 receptors. However, the fact that diazepam produced partial substitution for delta9-THC is consistent with a GABAergic component to cannabinoid drug discrimination.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond 23298-0613, USA.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Wiley
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Martin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002186:Cannabinoids / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D003975:Diazepam / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018757:GABA Modulators / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005793:Generalization, Psychological / Q000187:drug effects; D006213:Hallucinogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D010880:Piperidines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D000077285:Rimonabant
chemical_list: D002186:Cannabinoids; D018757:GABA Modulators; D006213:Hallucinogens; D010880:Piperidines; D011720:Pyrazoles; D013759:Dronabinol; D003975:Diazepam; D000077285:Rimonabant