title: Motor effects of delta 9 THC in cerebellar Lurcher mutant mice.
abstract: The present study evaluated the effects of the principal active component of marijuana (delta 9 THC) on motor abilities and motor learning in mice with cerebellar dysfunction. For this purpose, spontaneous locomotor activity, equilibrium abilities, muscular tone, motor coordination and motor learning were investigated in Lurcher mutant and non-mutant B6/CBA mice 20 min after i.p. administration of 4 or 8 mg kg(-1) of delta 9 tetra hydro cannabinol (delta 9 THC). The performances were compared to those obtained by Lurcher and non-mutant mice injected with vehicle (Tween 80). The results showed that at the dose of 4 mg kg(-1) but not at the dose of 8 mg kg(-1), the cannabinoid (CB) substance reduced deficits in motor coordination, equilibrium and muscular tone and facilitated motor learning in Lurcher mice. On the other hand, only a muscular strength decrease was observed in control B6/CBA mice injected with the dose of 8 mg kg(-1) of delta 9 THC. These results suggested that cannabinoid derivative could represent a new field of investigation concerning the treatment of cerebellar ataxic syndrome in humans.
authors.affiliation: UPRES PSY.CO EA 1780, Laboratoire de Neurobiologie de l'Apprentissage, Université de Rouen, Faculté des Sciences, 76821 Mont Saint Aignan Cedex, France.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lorivel
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hilber
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001245:Association Learning / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D063386:Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists; D002186:Cannabinoids / Q000494:pharmacology; D002526:Cerebellar Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000187:drug effects*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D008818:Mice, Neurologic Mutants; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000187:drug effects; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D011897:Random Allocation
chemical_list: D063386:Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists; D002186:Cannabinoids; D013759:Dronabinol