The cannabinoid agonist WIN 55,212-2 reduces sensorimotor gating and recognition memory in rats.
Cannabinoids can disrupt short-term memory in humans and animals and induce learning deficits and other cognitive impairments. In the present study we examined the role of a full cannabinoid agonist in short-term memory, sensorimotor gating, and the acquisition and expression of an operant learning paradigm in rats. We tested the effects of the synthetic cannabinoid WIN 55,212-2 (0.6 and 1.2 mg/kg) on short-term memory in social and object recognition tests, on prepulse inhibition (PPI) of startle, as well as on lever pressing for palatable food. Injections of 0.6 and 1.2 mg/kg WIN 55,212-2 impaired recognition memory and PPI in a dose-dependent manner, but had no effect on lever-pressing acquisition or expression, or on food preference. The PPI deficit was reversed by the administration of 0.1 mg/kg haloperidol. These data suggest that the synthetic cannabinoid WIN 55,212-2 does not lead to a general impairment of learning in an appetitive instrumental task, but significantly affects short-term memory and sensorimotor integration. The impairment in recognition and PPI might be due to deficits in attention-based short-term information processing.
Schneider
M
M
Brain Research Institute, Department of Neuropharmacology, University of Bremen, Germany. miriam.schneider@uni-bremen.de
Koch
M
M
D000818:Animals; D001070:Appetitive Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D001288:Attention / Q000187:drug effects; D048588:Benzoxazines; D002186:Cannabinoids / Q000819:agonists*; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000187:drug effects*; D009025:Morpholines / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009281:Naphthalenes / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011340:Problem Solving / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013216:Reflex, Startle / Q000187:drug effects*
D048588:Benzoxazines; D002186:Cannabinoids; D009025:Morpholines; D009281:Naphthalenes; C070417:(3R)-((2,3-dihydro-5-methyl-3-((4-morpholinyl)methyl)pyrrolo-(1,2,3-de)-1,4-benzoxazin-6-yl)(1-naphthalenyl))methanone; D006220:Haloperidol