Neuroscience 2000 Abstract
Presentation Number: | 96.17 |
---|---|
Abstract Title: | Self-administration behavior maintained by delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol the psychoactive ingredient of marijuana in squirrel monkeys. |
Authors: |
Goldberg, S. R.*1
; Munzar, P.1
; Tanda, G.2,3
1Preclinical Pharmacology, NIDA, NIH, Baltimore, MD 2Dept. Pharmacology, Georgetown Univ, Washington, DC 3Dept. Toxicology, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy |
Primary Theme and Topics |
J. Disorders of the Nervous System and Aging - 146. Drugs of abuse: opioids and others |
Secondary Theme and Topics | D. Neurotransmitters, Modulators, Transporters, and Receptors<br />- 54. Cannabinoids |
Session: |
96. Drugs of abuse: morphine and THC Poster |
Presentation Time: | Sunday, November 5, 2000 8:00 AM-9:00 AM |
Location: | Hall G-J |
Keywords: | marijuana, self-administration, cannabinoids, reward |
The abuse potential of marijuana in humans is well established but scientific evidence for reinforcing properties of its psychoactive constituent delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in animals is lacking. In the present experiments, high rates of self-administration behavior were consistently maintained in squirrel monkeys by intravenous injections of THC. Mean rates of responding ranged from 0.1 to 0.4 response/sec during daily 1-hr sessions, using a fixed-ratio 10, time-out 60 sec, schedule of i.v. THC injection with doses of 2 to 4 mcg/kg/injection. A second-order, fixed-interval schedule with fixed-ratio components was also studied, in which THC was repeatedly injected only at the end of each daily session in association with a brief visual stimulus (each completion of a fixed-ratio unit during a 30-min fixed interval produced only the brief visual stimulus). Mean rates of responding ranged from 0.06 to 0.2 responses/sec when 10 consecutive injections of 2 to 4 mcg/kg/injection THC spaced 2-sec apart ended the session. Presession treatment for five or ten consecutive daily sessions with SR141716A (0.3 mg/kg, i.m.), a selective antagonist of CB1 cannabinoid receptors, almost completely eliminated THC self-administration behavior under both the fixed-ratio and the second-order schedules, but did not alter cocaine self-administration behavior in monkeys self-administering i.v. cocaine (30 mcg/kg/injection) under the same fixed-ratio schedule and with similar rates and patterns of behavior.
Supported by NIDA
Sample Citation:
[Authors]. [Abstract Title]. Program No. XXX.XX. 2000 Neuroscience Meeting Planner. New Orleans, LA: Society for Neuroscience, 2000. Online.
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