Cannabinoid effects in basal ganglia in a rat model of Parkinson's disease

Neurosci Lett. 1998 Jun 5;248(3):171-4. doi: 10.1016/s0304-3940(98)00368-1.

Abstract

Cannabinoid receptors in the brain are highly concentrated in the basal ganglia, which is in accordance with their well known effects on motor behavior. In this study, rats with 6-hydroxydopamine lesions of the nigrostriatal pathway were implanted with cannulae in the striatum, globus pallidus and substantia nigra. The effect of unilateral infusion of the potent cannabinoid agonist CP55,940 on turning behavior was studied for each structure. Lesioned animals responded to intrapallidal and intrastriatal administration of the cannabinoid in a manner that was similar to that of unlesioned animals. However, lesioned animals showed greater contralateral turning in response to the cannabinoid infusions in the substantia nigra than unlesioned animals.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Basal Ganglia / drug effects*
  • Basal Ganglia / physiopathology
  • Cannabinoids / administration & dosage
  • Cannabinoids / pharmacology*
  • Corpus Striatum / drug effects
  • Corpus Striatum / physiopathology
  • Cyclohexanols / pharmacology
  • Globus Pallidus / drug effects
  • Globus Pallidus / physiopathology
  • Injections, Intraventricular
  • Male
  • Motor Activity / drug effects
  • Neural Pathways / drug effects
  • Neural Pathways / physiopathology
  • Oxidopamine / pharmacology
  • Parkinson Disease / physiopathology*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Substantia Nigra / drug effects
  • Substantia Nigra / physiopathology

Substances

  • Cannabinoids
  • Cyclohexanols
  • 3-(2-hydroxy-4-(1,1-dimethylheptyl)phenyl)-4-(3-hydroxypropyl)cyclohexanol
  • Oxidopamine