Abstract
The effects of the active ingredient of Cannabis, Δ- tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), and of the highly addictive drug heroin on in vivo dopamine transmission in the nucleus accumbens were compared in Sprague-Dawley rats by brain microdialysis. Δ9-THC and heroin increased extracellular dopamine concentrations selectively in the shell of the nucleus accumbens; these effects were mimicked by the synthetic cannabinoid agonist WIN55212-2. SR141716A, an antagonist of central cannabinoid receptors, prevented the effects of Δ9-THC but not those of heroin. Naloxone, a generic opioid antagonist, administered systemically, or naloxonazine, an antagonist of μ1 opioid receptors, infused into the ventral tegmentum, prevented the action of cannabinoids and heroin on dopamine transmission. Thus, Δ9-THC and heroin exert similar effects on mesolimbic dopamine transmission through a common μ1 oploid receptor mechanism located in the ventral mesencephalic tegmentum.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 2048-2050 |
| Number of pages | 3 |
| Journal | Science |
| Volume | 276 |
| Issue number | 5321 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jun 27 1997 |
Fingerprint
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General
Cite this
Cannabinoid and heroin activation of mesolimbic dopamine transmission by a common μ1 opioid receptor mechanism. / Tanda, Gianluigi; Pontieri, Francesco E.; Di Chiara, Gaetano.
In: Science, Vol. 276, No. 5321, 27.06.1997, p. 2048-2050.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Cannabinoid and heroin activation of mesolimbic dopamine transmission by a common μ1 opioid receptor mechanism
AU - Tanda, Gianluigi
AU - Pontieri, Francesco E.
AU - Di Chiara, Gaetano
PY - 1997/6/27
Y1 - 1997/6/27
N2 - The effects of the active ingredient of Cannabis, Δ- tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), and of the highly addictive drug heroin on in vivo dopamine transmission in the nucleus accumbens were compared in Sprague-Dawley rats by brain microdialysis. Δ9-THC and heroin increased extracellular dopamine concentrations selectively in the shell of the nucleus accumbens; these effects were mimicked by the synthetic cannabinoid agonist WIN55212-2. SR141716A, an antagonist of central cannabinoid receptors, prevented the effects of Δ9-THC but not those of heroin. Naloxone, a generic opioid antagonist, administered systemically, or naloxonazine, an antagonist of μ1 opioid receptors, infused into the ventral tegmentum, prevented the action of cannabinoids and heroin on dopamine transmission. Thus, Δ9-THC and heroin exert similar effects on mesolimbic dopamine transmission through a common μ1 oploid receptor mechanism located in the ventral mesencephalic tegmentum.
AB - The effects of the active ingredient of Cannabis, Δ- tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), and of the highly addictive drug heroin on in vivo dopamine transmission in the nucleus accumbens were compared in Sprague-Dawley rats by brain microdialysis. Δ9-THC and heroin increased extracellular dopamine concentrations selectively in the shell of the nucleus accumbens; these effects were mimicked by the synthetic cannabinoid agonist WIN55212-2. SR141716A, an antagonist of central cannabinoid receptors, prevented the effects of Δ9-THC but not those of heroin. Naloxone, a generic opioid antagonist, administered systemically, or naloxonazine, an antagonist of μ1 opioid receptors, infused into the ventral tegmentum, prevented the action of cannabinoids and heroin on dopamine transmission. Thus, Δ9-THC and heroin exert similar effects on mesolimbic dopamine transmission through a common μ1 oploid receptor mechanism located in the ventral mesencephalic tegmentum.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0030761521&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0030761521&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1126/science.276.5321.2048
DO - 10.1126/science.276.5321.2048
M3 - Article
C2 - 9197269
AN - SCOPUS:0030761521
VL - 276
SP - 2048
EP - 2050
JO - Science
JF - Science
SN - 0036-8075
IS - 5321
ER -