Cannabinoid receptor agonism suppresses tremor, cognition disturbances and anxiety-like behaviors in a rat model of essential tremor.
Cognitive and motor disturbances are serious consequences of tremor induced by motor disorders. Despite a lack of effective clinical treatment, some potential therapeutic agents have been used to alleviate the cognitive symptoms in the animal models of tremor. In the current study, the effects of WIN55, 212-2 (WIN), a cannabinoid receptor (CBR) agonist, on harmaline-induced motor and cognitive impairments were studied. Adult rats were treated with WIN (0.5mg/kg; i.p.) 15min before harmaline administration (10mg/kg; ip) after which exploratory and anxiety related behaviors, and cognitive function were assessed using open-field behavior and shuttle box tests. Rats that received harmaline only exhibited a markedly reduced number of central square entries when compared to harmaline vehicle-treated controls, whereas those treated with WIN and harmaline showed a significant increase in central square entries, compared to harmaline only treated. The passive avoidance memory impairments observed in harmaline treated rats, was reversed somewhat by administration of WIN. The neuroprotective and anxiolytic effects of WIN demonstrated in the current study can be offered cannabinoid receptor (CBR) agonism as a potential neuroprotective agent in the treatment of patients with tremor that manifest mental dysfunctions.
Neuroscience Research Center, Neuropharmacology Institute, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, 76198-13159, Iran.
Hassan
H
Abbassian
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
Parisa
P
Esmaeili
Neuroscience Research Center, Neuropharmacology Institute, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, 76198-13159, Iran.
Mahshid
M
Tahamtan
Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran; Department of Nursing, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran.
Iraj
I
Aghaei
Neuroscience Research Center, Neuropharmacology Institute, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, 76198-13159, Iran.
Zohreh
Z
Vaziri
Neuroscience Research Center, Neuropharmacology Institute, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, 76198-13159, Iran.
Vahid
V
Sheibani
Department of Pharmacy, School of Chemistry, Food & Nutritional Sciences and Pharmacy, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading, Berkshire, RG6 6AP, UK. Electronic address: b.j.whalley@reading.ac.uk.
Benjamin J
BJ
Whalley
Neuroscience Research Center, Neuropharmacology Institute, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, 76198-13159, Iran. Electronic address: shabanimoh@yahoo.com.
Mohammad
M
Shabani
D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018726:Anti-Dyskinesia Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D048588:Benzoxazines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D063386:Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D020329:Essential Tremor / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D006246:Harmaline; D008297:Male; D009025:Morpholines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009281:Naphthalenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018697:Nootropic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000187:drug effects; D011921:Rats, Inbred WKY
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D018726:Anti-Dyskinesia Agents; D048588:Benzoxazines; D063386:Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists; D009025:Morpholines; D009281:Naphthalenes; D018697:Nootropic Agents; C070417:(3R)-((2,3-dihydro-5-methyl-3-((4-morpholinyl)methyl)pyrrolo-(1,2,3-de)-1,4-benzoxazin-6-yl)(1-naphthalenyl))methanone; D006246:Harmaline
CB agonism; Harmaline; Memory; Tremor; WIN55, 212-2