Cannabinoid receptor antagonist reduces heroin self-administration only in dependent rats.
Functionality of the endogenous cannabinoid system undergoes relevant changes in reward-related brain areas in animal models of opiate addiction. By using a limited access heroin self-administration paradigm we show that cannabinoid CB(1) receptor antagonist N-(piperidin-1-yl)-5-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-4-methyl-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxamide hydrochloride (SR141716A, 0.03-3.0 mg/kg) suppresses heroin self-administration only in opiate-dependent rats but not in non-dependent animals. These results further support the study of cannabinoid CB(1) receptor antagonists for the treatment of opiate addiction.
Instituto Complutense de Drogodependencias, Departamento de Psicobiología, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain. mnavarro@psi.ucm.es
Miguel
M
Navarro
M Rocio A
MR
Carrera
Ignacio
I
Del Arco
Jose Manuel
JM
Trigo
George F
GF
Koob
Fernando
F
Rodríguez de Fonseca
D000818:Animals; D063387:Cannabinoid Receptor Antagonists; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D003932:Heroin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D010880:Piperidines / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D043882:Receptors, Cannabinoid / Q000502:physiology; D000077285:Rimonabant; D012646:Self Administration
D063387:Cannabinoid Receptor Antagonists; D010880:Piperidines; D011720:Pyrazoles; D043882:Receptors, Cannabinoid; D003932:Heroin; D000077285:Rimonabant