title: Behavioral sensitization to heroin by cannabinoid pretreatment in the rat.
abstract: The behavioral consequences of acute heroin challenge (0.5 mg/kg, s.c.) were measured in rats previously submitted to repeated administration of increasing doses of the synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonist, R(+)-[2,3-dihydro-5-methyl-3-[(morpholinyl)methyl]pyrrolo-[1,2,3-de]-1,4-benzoxazinyl]-(1-naphthalenyl) methanone mesylate (WIN55212.2) (first day 2 mg/kg, second day 4 mg/kg, third day 8 mg/kg) or vehicle. Heroin administration to rats pretreated with vehicle produced catalepsy. The same dose of heroin in WIN55212.2-pretreated rats was followed by a marked increase of locomotor activity with stereotyped and non-stereotyped behaviors. These effects were blocked by the opioid receptor antagonist, naloxone. These findings indicate that pretreatment with WIN55212.2 produces cross-sensitization to heroin in the rat. These changes might reflect long-lasting changes of receptor population or transcriptional mechanisms in the mesolimbic system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, University La Sapienza, Viale dell'Università, 30 (box #41), 00185, Rome, Italy. franceso.pontieri@uniroma1.it
authors.forename: F E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Pontieri
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Monnazzi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scontrini
authors.forename: F R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Buttarelli
authors.forename: F R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Patacchioli
mesh_terms: D000700:Analgesics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D048588:Benzoxazines; D002186:Cannabinoids / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D003932:Heroin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D009025:Morpholines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D009281:Naphthalenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D043882:Receptors, Cannabinoid; D011955:Receptors, Drug / Q000819:agonists
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D048588:Benzoxazines; D002186:Cannabinoids; D009025:Morpholines; D009281:Naphthalenes; D043882:Receptors, Cannabinoid; D011955:Receptors, Drug; 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