title: Effects of intra-amygdala infusion of CB1 receptor agonists on the reconsolidation of fear-potentiated startle.
abstract: The cannabinoid CB1 receptor has been shown to be critically involved in the extinction of fear memory. Systemic injection of a CB1 receptor antagonist prior to extinction training blocked extinction. Conversely, administration of the cannabinoid uptake inhibitor AM404 facilitated extinction in a dose-dependent manner. Here we show that bilateral infusion of CB1 receptor agonists into the amygdala after memory reactivation blocked reconsolidation of fear memory measured with fear-potentiated startle. The effect was dose-dependent and could be blocked by AM251, a specific CB1 receptor antagonist. In contrast, the effect of CB1 agonists on reconsolidation was no longer seen if memory reactivation was omitted. Concomitant with block of reconsolidation, CB1 agonist-treated animals did not exhibit shock-induced reinstatement or spontaneous recovery of fear. The absence of recovery was not attributable to permanent damage to the amygdala in WIN-treated rats, nor did the effect result from alteration of baseline startle or shock reactivity. These results suggest that CB1 agonists could impair fear memory via blocking reconsolidation.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Basic Medical Sciences and Department of Pharmacology, National Cheng-Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan. bailu@mail.nih.gov
authors.forename: Hui-Ching
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Sheng-Chun
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.forename: Po-Wu
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Gean
mesh_terms: D000679:Amygdala / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001095:Arachidonic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001245:Association Learning / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D048588:Benzoxazines; D002186:Cannabinoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000819:agonists / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D003214:Conditioning, Classical / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D005108:Extinction, Psychological / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005239:Fear / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008845:Microinjections; D009025:Morpholines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009281:Naphthalenes / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010880:Piperidines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage; D051381:Rats; D043884:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1 / Q000819:agonists* / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D013216:Reflex, Startle / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D048588:Benzoxazines; D002186:Cannabinoids; D009025:Morpholines; D009281:Naphthalenes; D010880:Piperidines; D011720:Pyrazoles; D043884:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1; C103505:AM 251; C070417:(3R)-((2,3-dihydro-5-methyl-3-((4-morpholinyl)methyl)pyrrolo-(1,2,3-de)-1,4-benzoxazin-6-yl)(1-naphthalenyl))methanone; D013759:Dronabinol; C062018:HU 211; C107594:N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)arachidonylamide