title: Cannabinoid CB1 receptor antagonist rimonabant disrupts nicotine reward-associated memory in rats.
abstract: Exposure to cues previously associated with drug intake leads to relapse by activating previously acquired memories. Based on previous findings, in which cannabinoid CB(1) receptors were found to be critically involved in specific aspects of learning and memory, we investigated the role of CB(1) receptors in nicotine reward memory using a rat conditioned place preference (CPP) model. In Experiment 1, rats were trained for CPP with alternating injections of nicotine (0.5mg/kg, s.c.) and saline to acquire the nicotine-conditioned memory. To examine the effects of rimonabant on the reconsolidation of nicotine reward memory, rats were administered rimonabant (0, 0.3, and 3.0mg/kg, i.p.) immediately after reexposure to the drug-paired context. In Experiment 2, rats were trained for CPP similarly to Experiment 1. To examine the effects of rimonabant on the reinstatement of nicotine reward memory, rimonabant (0, 0.3, and 3.0mg/kg, i.p.) was administered before the test of nicotine-induced CPP reinstatement. In Experiment 3, to evaluate whether rimonabant itself produces a reward memory, rats were trained for CPP with alternating injections of different doses of rimonabant (0, 0.3, and 3.0mg/kg) and saline. Rimonabant at a dose of 3.0mg/kg significantly disrupted the reconsolidation of nicotine memory and significantly blocked the reinstatement of nicotine-induced CPP. However, rimonabant itself did not produce CPP. These findings provide clear evidence that CB(1) receptors play a role in nicotine reward memory, suggesting that CB(1) receptor antagonists may be a potential target for managing nicotine addiction.
authors: School of Pharmacy and Affiliated Hospital of Guiyang Medical University, Guiyang 550004, China.
authors: Qin
authors: Q
authors: Fang
authors: Fang-Qiong
authors: FQ
authors: Li
authors: Yan-Qin
authors: YQ
authors: Li
authors: Yan-Xue
authors: YX
authors: Xue
authors: Ying-Ying
authors: YY
authors: He
authors: Jian-Feng
authors: JF
authors: Liu
authors: Lin
authors: L
authors: Lu
authors: Ji-Shi
authors: JS
authors: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D009538:Nicotine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010880:Piperidines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D043884:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D012201:Reward; D000077285:Rimonabant
chemical_list: D018722:Nicotinic Agonists; D010880:Piperidines; D011720:Pyrazoles; D043884:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1; D009538:Nicotine; D000077285:Rimonabant