title: Cardiovascular effects of cannabinoids in conscious spontaneously hypertensive rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In anaesthetized spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), there is evidence for up-regulation of cannabinoid (CB1) receptors: antagonism of CB1 receptors causes a rise in blood pressure, and administration of the endocannabinoid, anandamide, or inhibition of anandamide degradation causes hypotension. These findings have led to the suggestion that the endocannabinoid system may be a therapeutic target in hypertension. However, since the cardiovascular responses to cannabinoids are substantially influenced by anaesthesia, the purpose of this study was to assess regional haemodynamic responses to cannabinoid receptor stimulation and inhibition in conscious SHR.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cardiovascular responses to i.v. administration of anandamide, the cannabinoid receptor agonist, WIN 55212-2, and the CB(1) receptor antagonist, AM 251, were measured in male SHR, Wistar Kyoto rats and outbred Wistar rats, chronically instrumented for recording renal, mesenteric and hindquarters haemodynamics in the conscious, freely-moving state.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hypotensive responses to anandamide and WIN 55212-2 only occurred in SHR, but these were relatively modest and not associated with CB1 receptor-mediated vasodilatation. In SHR only, anandamide caused bradycardia, which was inhibited by AM 251. Furthermore, a pressor response to CB1 receptor antagonism occurred only in SHR, but was not associated with vasoconstriction. Moreover, there was some evidence for CB1 receptor-mediated vasoconstrictor actions of anandamide in SHR, which was not seen in the normotensive strains.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results are consistent with activation of CB1 receptors in SHR by endogenous ligands exerting an antihypertensive effect, but the findings do not indicate enhanced CB1 receptor-mediated vasodilator mechanisms in SHR.
authors: Centre for Integrated Systems Biology & Medicine, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Nottingham, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK.
authors: A J
authors: AJ
authors: Wheal
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Bennett
authors: M D
authors: MD
authors: Randall
authors: S M
authors: SM
authors: Gardiner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001095:Arachidonic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D048588:Benzoxazines / Q000494:pharmacology; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002186:Cannabinoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000187:drug effects*; D003243:Consciousness; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006614:Hindlimb / Q000098:blood supply / Q000187:drug effects; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D009025:Morpholines / Q000494:pharmacology; D009281:Naphthalenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D010880:Piperidines / Q000494:pharmacology; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides / Q000494:pharmacology; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011918:Rats, Inbred SHR; D011921:Rats, Inbred WKY; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D043884:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D012079:Renal Circulation / Q000187:drug effects; D013045:Species Specificity; D013152:Splanchnic Circulation / Q000187:drug effects; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000187:drug effects; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D048588:Benzoxazines; D002186:Cannabinoids; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D009025:Morpholines; D009281:Naphthalenes; D010880:Piperidines; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides; 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; C078814:anandamide
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