JWH-018 and JWH-073: Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol-like discriminative stimulus effects in monkeys

J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2012 Jan;340(1):37-45. doi: 10.1124/jpet.111.187757. Epub 2011 Sep 30.

Abstract

Products containing naphthalen-1-yl-(1-pentylindol-3-yl) methanone (JWH-018) and naphthalen-1-yl-(1-butylindol-3-yl) methanone (JWH-073) are emerging drugs of abuse. Here, the behavioral effects of JWH-018 and JWH-073 were examined in one behavioral assay selective for cannabinoid agonism, rhesus monkeys (n = 4) discriminating Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ⁹-THC; 0.1 mg/kg i.v.), and another assay sensitive to cannabinoid withdrawal, i.e., monkeys (n = 3) discriminating the cannabinoid antagonist rimonabant (1 mg/kg i.v.) during chronic Δ⁹-THC (1 mg/kg s.c. 12 h) treatment. Δ⁹-THC, JWH-018, and JWH-073 increased drug-lever responding in monkeys discriminating Δ⁹-THC; the ED₅₀ values were 0.044, 0.013, and 0.058 mg/kg, respectively and the duration of action was 4, 2, and 1 h, respectively. Rimonabant (0.32-3.2 mg/kg) produced surmountable antagonism of Δ⁹-THC, JWH-018, and JWH-073. Schild analyses and single-dose apparent affinity estimates yielded apparent pA₂/pK(B) values of 6.65, 6.68, and 6.79 in the presence of Δ⁹-THC, JWH-018, and JWH-073, respectively. In Δ⁹-THC-treated monkeys discriminating rimonabant, the training drug increased responding on the rimonabant lever; the ED₅₀ value of rimonabant was 0.20 mg/kg. Δ⁹-THC (1-10 mg/kg), JWH-018 (0.32-3.2 mg/kg), and JWH-073 (3.2-32 mg/kg) dose-dependently attenuated the rimonabant-discriminative stimulus (i.e., withdrawal). These results suggest that Δ⁹-THC, JWH-018, and JWH-073 act through the same receptors to produce Δ⁹-THC-like subjective effects and attenuate Δ⁹-THC withdrawal. The relatively short duration of action of JWH-018 and JWH-073 might lead to more frequent use, which could strengthen habitual use by increasing the frequency of stimulus-outcome pairings. This coupled with the possible greater efficacy of JWH-018 at cannabinoid 1 receptors could be associated with greater dependence liability than Δ⁹-THC.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Behavior, Animal / drug effects
  • Conditioning, Operant / drug effects
  • Data Interpretation, Statistical
  • Discrimination Learning / drug effects
  • Discrimination, Psychological / drug effects*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Dronabinol / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Dronabinol / pharmacology*
  • Female
  • Hallucinogens / pharmacology*
  • Illicit Drugs / pharmacology*
  • Indoles / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Indoles / pharmacology*
  • Macaca mulatta
  • Male
  • Marijuana Abuse / drug therapy
  • Marijuana Abuse / psychology
  • Naphthalenes / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Naphthalenes / pharmacology*
  • Piperidines / pharmacology
  • Pyrazoles / pharmacology
  • Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Rimonabant
  • Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / drug therapy
  • Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / psychology

Substances

  • Hallucinogens
  • Illicit Drugs
  • Indoles
  • Naphthalenes
  • Piperidines
  • Pyrazoles
  • Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1
  • Dronabinol
  • JWH-073
  • 1-pentyl-3-(1-naphthoyl)indole
  • Rimonabant