title: Behavioral pharmacological properties of a novel cannabinoid 1',1'-dithiolane delta8-THC analog, AMG-3.
abstract: Newly developed cannabinoids may hold the promise of the development of useful and safe drugs. This study aimed to investigate the behavioral effects of the novel 1',1'-dithiolane delta8-HC analogue AMG-3, a cannabinomimetic molecule with high affinity for CB1/CB2 receptors. This analog was chosen for its binding affinity to these receptors, which is higher than that reported for delta8-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta8-THC). Behavioral responses were assessed after the administration of AMG-3 (1, 2, 4, 8 mg/kg, i.p.) in the open field, on the bar test, on the hot plate and in the intracranial self-stimulation procedure. AMG-3 increased the reactivity time on the hot plate in a dose- and time-dependent manner, indicating a long-lasting analgesic effect (at least 24 h). The substance was found dose-dependently to decrease spontaneous motor activity and to induce catalepsy, particularly at the highest dose (8 mg/kg). AMG-3 did not affect the rewarding value of intracranial self-stimulation, except to increase the reward threshold at the highest dose (8 mg/kg). The effects of the highest dose of AMG-3 on spontaneous activity and on the self-stimulation paradigm were completely reversed by pre-treatment with the CB1 receptor antagonist AM-251. These findings indicate that the administration of AMG-3 to rats elicits a specific behavioral profile, most probably associated with the activation of CB1 receptors and without effects indicating abuse potential.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Medical School, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece. kantoniu@cc.uoi.gr
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Antoniou
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Galanopoulos
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vlachou
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kourouli
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Nahmias
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Thermos
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Panagis
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Daifoti
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marselos
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Papahatjis
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Spyraki
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D001667:Binding, Competitive / Q000187:drug effects; D002186:Cannabinoids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002375:Catalepsy / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D003511:Cyclohexanols / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008297:Male; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D010880:Piperidines / Q000494:pharmacology; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D043884:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1 / Q000819:agonists / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors; D014316:Tritium
chemical_list: D002186:Cannabinoids; D003511:Cyclohexanols; D010880:Piperidines; D011720:Pyrazoles; D043884:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1; D014316:Tritium; C103505:AM 251; C054649:3-(2-hydroxy-4-(1,1-dimethylheptyl)phenyl)-4-(3-hydroxypropyl)cyclohexanol; C119148:AMG 3