title: Evidence that CB-1 and CB-2 cannabinoid receptors mediate antinociception in neuropathic pain in the rat.
abstract: The roles of the two cannabinoid receptor subtypes, CB-1 and CB-2, have not been clarified in cannabinoid-mediated analgesia. We investigated the efficacy of the non-selective cannabinoid receptor agonist CP55,940 in the modulation of responses in the rat to both acute pain (tail flick) and neuropathic pain (tactile allodynia following chronic L5/6 spinal nerve ligation). Responses were also assessed in the presence of the CB-1 antagonist SR141716A (SR1) and the CB-2 antagonist SR144528 (SR2). CP55,940 attenuated tactile allodynia (ED(50) 0.04 mg/kg i.t. (95% CI 0.032-0.044 mg/kg), 0.12 mg/kg i.p. (95% CI 0.10-0.15 mg/kg)) and induced thermal antinociception (ED(50) tail flick 0.07 mg/kg i.t. (95% CI 0.05-0.10 mg/kg), 0.17 mg/kg i.p. (95% CI 0.11-0.26 mg/kg)). SR1 0.5 mg/kg i.t. attenuated the antinociceptive effect of CP55,940 in both modalities. However, SR1 1.0 mg/kg i.p. decreased tail flick latency but had no effect on tactile allodynia antinociception. In contrast, SR2 1.0 mg/kg i.p. significantly decreased the effect of i.p. CP55,940 on both tail flick antinociception and tactile allodynia (P<0.005). The combination of SR1 and SR2 (i.p.) had an additive effect in decreasing the antinociception induced by CP55,940 on tail flick responses (P<0.005). These results suggest a role for CB-2 receptor-mediated antinociception in both acute and neuropathic pain in addition to centrally located CB-1 mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: The Department of Pharmacology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic. 3010, Australia.
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: Christine E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Angus
mesh_terms: D000700:Analgesics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D001892:Camphanes / Q000494:pharmacology; D003511:Cyclohexanols / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004333:Drug Administration Routes; D004347:Drug Interactions; D008026:Ligation / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D009619:Nociceptors / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000187:drug effects; D010880:Piperidines / Q000494:pharmacology; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011930:Reaction Time; D043884:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology*; D043885:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology*; D000077285:Rimonabant; D013127:Spinal Nerves / Q000293:injuries; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D001892:Camphanes; D003511:Cyclohexanols; D010880:Piperidines; D011720:Pyrazoles; D043884:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1; D043885:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2; C110630:SR 144528; C054649:3-(2-hydroxy-4-(1,1-dimethylheptyl)phenyl)-4-(3-hydroxypropyl)cyclohexanol; D000077285:Rimonabant