Direct intra-accumbal infusion of a beta-adrenergic receptor antagonist abolish...

• Author(s): Carvalho, Ana Franky ; Bockstaele, Elisabeth J. Van
• Date: 2011
• Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/1822/18765
• Origin: RepositóriUM - Universidade do Minho
• Subject(s): Cannabinoids; Lithium; Adrenergic receptors; Place conditioning; Aversion
• Document Type: Article
• Language: English

Description

The cannabinoid system is known to interact with a variety of neuromodulators in the central nervous system and impacts diverse behaviors. Previous studies have demonstrated that limbic norepinephrine is a critical determinant in the behavioral expression of cannabinoid-induced aversion. The present study was carried out to define the adrenergic receptor subtype involved in mediating cannabinoid-induced behavioral responses. An acute microinjection of the 1-adrenergic receptor blocker, betaxolol, directly into the nucleus accumbens (Acb), was able to prevent WIN 55,212-2-induced aversion, but not lithium-induced aversion, as measured in a place conditioning paradigm. These results suggest that noradrenergic transmission in the Acb is important for cannabinoid-induced aversion and that beta-adrenergic antagonists may be effective in counteracting negative side effects of cannabinoid-based agents.