title: Expression of functional cannabinoid CB2receptor in VTA dopamine neurons in rats.
abstract: We have recently reported the expression of functional cannabinoid CB2receptors (CB2Rs) in midbrain dopamine (DA) neurons in mice. However, little is known whether CB2Rs are similarly expressed in rat brain because significant species differences in CB2R structures and expression are found. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemical assays detected CB2gene and receptors in DA neurons of the ventral tegmental area (VTA), which was up-regulated in cocaine self-administration rats. Electrophysiological studies demonstrated that activation of CB2Rs by JWH133 inhibited VTA DA neuronal firing in single dissociated neurons. Systemic administration of JWH133 failed to alter, while local administration of JWH133 into the nucleus accumbens inhibited cocaine-enhanced extracellular DA and i.v. cocaine self-administration. This effect was blocked by AM630, a selective CB2R antagonist. These data suggest that CB2Rs are expressed in VTA DA neurons and functionally modulate DA neuronal activities and cocaine self-administration behavior in rats.
authors.affiliation: Neuropsychopharmacology Section, Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA.|Synaptic Plasticity Section, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA.
authors.forename: Hai-Ying
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Divisions of Neurology and Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA.
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Synaptic Plasticity Section, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Neuropsychopharmacology Section, Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA.
authors.forename: Guo-Hua
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Bi
authors.affiliation: Neuropsychopharmacology Section, Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA.
authors.forename: Hong-Ju
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Neuropsychopharmacology Section, Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA.
authors.forename: Qing-Rong
authors.initials: QR
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Divisions of Neurology and Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Neuropsychopharmacology Section, Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA.
authors.forename: Eliot L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Gardner
authors.affiliation: Synaptic Plasticity Section, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA.|Solomon H. Snyder Neuroscience Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.|Department of Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
authors.forename: Antonello
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bonci
authors.affiliation: Neuropsychopharmacology Section, Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA.
authors.forename: Zheng-Xiong
authors.initials: ZX
authors.lastname: Xi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003042:Cocaine / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000378:metabolism*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D059290:Dopaminergic Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D043885:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D017557:Ventral Tegmental Area / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D043885:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2; D003042:Cocaine
keywords: CB2 receptor; JWH133; cannabinoid; cocaine; dopamine; self-administration
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