Neuroscience 2002 Abstract
| Presentation Number: | 496.18 |
|---|---|
| Abstract Title: | CANNABINOIDERGIC REGULATION OF VISUOSPATIAL ATTENTION IN THE RAT. |
| Authors: |
Arguello, P. A.*1
; Jentsch, J. D.1
1Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA |
| Primary Theme and Topics |
Neurological and Psychiatric Conditions - Psychiatric Disorders -- Schizophrenia |
| Secondary Theme and Topics | Cognition and Behavior<br />- Behavioral Pharmacology<br />-- Other |
| Session: |
496. Psychiatric disorders: schizophrenia--animal models II Poster |
| Presentation Time: | Tuesday, November 5, 2002 9:00 AM-10:00 AM |
| Location: | Hall A2-B3 Y-65 |
| Keywords: | cannabinoid, cognition, vigilance, marijuana |
The cannabinoid system has been shown to affect learning and memory in humans and rats, but its effects on attentional performance are less clear. We investigated the role for cannabinoid receptors in the control of visuospatial attention in rats using a self-paced, lateralized reaction time task. Male rats were injected with the selective cannabinoid CB1 receptor agonists delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol or WIN 55,212-2 or the CB1 receptor antagonist SR 141617A at doses of 0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 mg/kg. Each rat was given all doses of one of the drugs versus vehicle in a Latin Square’s design.
For WIN 55,212-2 there was a significant interaction between treatment and target stimulus duration for choice accuracy (p=0.03); this is partly due to increased omissions at the 0.5 sec target stimulus duration. The highest dose of WIN 55,212-2 tended to decrease anticipatory responses, but did not affect pellet retrieval times or reaction times, suggesting that no motor slowing occurred at these doses. The medium dose of WIN 55,212-2 tended to increase perseverative responses (p=0.08). By contrast, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol only affected choice accuracy at the high dose of 1.0 mg/kg; the impairment produced by THC did not interact with stimulus duration. SR 141617A failed to produce any measurable effects on performance, on its own.
These results suggest that acute administration of cannabinoid receptor agonists produce an attentional deficit that may prove useful in investigating the psychopharmacology of cognition, as well as the pathophysiological substrates of diseases potentially related to altered cannabinoid signaling, e.g., schizophrenia.
For WIN 55,212-2 there was a significant interaction between treatment and target stimulus duration for choice accuracy (p=0.03); this is partly due to increased omissions at the 0.5 sec target stimulus duration. The highest dose of WIN 55,212-2 tended to decrease anticipatory responses, but did not affect pellet retrieval times or reaction times, suggesting that no motor slowing occurred at these doses. The medium dose of WIN 55,212-2 tended to increase perseverative responses (p=0.08). By contrast, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol only affected choice accuracy at the high dose of 1.0 mg/kg; the impairment produced by THC did not interact with stimulus duration. SR 141617A failed to produce any measurable effects on performance, on its own.
These results suggest that acute administration of cannabinoid receptor agonists produce an attentional deficit that may prove useful in investigating the psychopharmacology of cognition, as well as the pathophysiological substrates of diseases potentially related to altered cannabinoid signaling, e.g., schizophrenia.
Supported by Univ of California
Sample Citation:
[Authors]. [Abstract Title]. Program No. XXX.XX. 2002 Neuroscience Meeting Planner. Orlando, FL: Society for Neuroscience, 2002. Online.
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