Jc. Arnold et al., Effects of the cannabinoid receptor agonist CP 55,940 and the cannabinoid receptor antagonist SR 141716 on intracranial self-stimulation in Lewis rats, LIFE SCI, 70(1), 2001, pp. 97-108
Lewis rats were trained to self-stimulate the medial forebrain bundle (MFB)
using a rate-frequency paradigm. They were then tested for the effects of
the cannabinoid receptor agonist CP 55,940, the selective cannabinoid recep
tor antagonist SR 141716 and the dopamine D-1 receptor antagonist SCH 23390
. CP 55,940 (0, 10, 25 and 50 mug/kg i.p.) had no effect on MFB self-stimul
ation behaviour as assessed by the M-50, the stimulation frequency at which
half-maximal response rates were obtained. With SR 141716, only a very hig
h dose (20 mg/kg i.p.) caused a significant inhibition of the rewarding eff
icacy of the stimulation. This was seen as an increase in the M-50. All oth
er doses of SR 141716 (0, 1, 3, 10 mg/kg i.p.) were ineffective in modulati
ng the M-50. By comparison, a relatively low dose (0.06 mg/kg i.p.) of SCH
23390 caused a large increase in M-50. These results indicate a relatively
modest influence, if any at all, of exogenous or endogenous cannabinoids on
reward-relevant neurotransmission. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All righ
ts reserved.