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Involvement of mu-, delta- and kappa-opioid receptor subtypes in the discriminative-stimulus effects of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in rats

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Abstract

Rationale

Many behavioral effects of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), including its discriminative-stimulus effects, are modulated by endogenous opioid systems.

Objective

To investigate opioid receptor subtypes involved in the discriminative effects of THC.

Methods

Rats trained to discriminate 3 mg/kg i.p. of THC from vehicle using a two-lever operant drug-discrimination procedure, were tested with compounds that bind preferentially or selectively to either mu-, delta- or kappa-opioid receptors.

Results

The preferential mu-opioid receptor agonist heroin (0.3–1.0 mg/kg, i.p.), the selective delta-opioid receptor agonist SNC-80 (1–10 mg/kg, i.p.) and the selective kappa-opioid receptor agonist U50488 (1–10 mg/kg, i.p.) did not produce generalization to the discriminative effects of THC when given alone. However, heroin, but not SNC-80 or U50488, significantly shifted the dose–response curve for THC discrimination to the left. Also, the preferential mu-opioid receptor antagonist naltrexone (0.1–1 mg/kg, i.p.), the selective delta-opioid receptor antagonist, naltrindole (1–10 mg/kg, i.p.) and the kappa-opioid receptor antagonist nor-binaltorphimine (n-BNI, 5 mg/kg, s.c.), did not significantly reduce the discriminative effects of the training dose of THC. However, naltrexone, but not naltrindole or n-BNI, significantly shifted the dose–response curve for THC discrimination to the right. Finally, naltrexone, but not naltrindole or n-BNI, blocked the leftward shift in the dose–response curve for THC discrimination produced by heroin.

Conclusions

mu- but not delta- or kappa-opioid receptors are involved in the discriminative effects of THC. Given the role that mu-opioid receptors play in THC’s rewarding effects, the present findings suggest that discriminative-stimulus effects and rewarding effects of THC involve similar neural mechanisms.

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Acknowledgements

The authors want to thank C. Wertheim for her excellent technical assistance and G. Tanda for helpful comments on the manuscript.

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Author notes

  1. Marcello Solinas

    Present address: Laboratoire de Biologie et Physiologie Cellulaire, CNRS-6187, University of Poitiers, 40 Avenue du Recteur Pineau, 86022, Poitiers, France

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Preclinical Pharmacology Section, Behavioral Neuroscience Research Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Health, Room 318, 5500 Nathan Shock Drive, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA

    Marcello Solinas & Steven R. Goldberg

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  1. Marcello Solinas
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  2. Steven R. Goldberg
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Correspondence to Marcello Solinas.

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Solinas, M., Goldberg, S.R. Involvement of mu-, delta- and kappa-opioid receptor subtypes in the discriminative-stimulus effects of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in rats. Psychopharmacology 179, 804–812 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-004-2118-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-004-2118-x

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