Involvement of central cannabinoid (CB1) receptors in the establishment of place conditioning in rats (original) (raw)

Abstract

The involvement of cannabinoid processes in positive reinforcement was studied using an unbiased, one-compartment, conditioned place preference (CPP) procedure in rats. This was achieved by examining the ability of the selective antagonist of the CB1 cannabinoid receptor subtype, SR 141716, to counteract the CPP supported by classical reinforcers. The acquisition of CPP induced by cocaine (2 mg/kg), morphine (4 mg/kg) and food (standard chow and sucrose pellets) was dose-dependently blocked by pre-pairing administration of SR 141716 (0.03–3 mg/kg). However, SR 141716 (up to 10 mg/kg) did not significantly counteract the expression of cocaine-induced CPP. On the other hand, the synthetic CB receptor agonist, WIN 55212-2 (0.3–1 mg/kg), established a robust place aversion (CPA), as already described with other agonists, and CPP was never observed, even at 100-fold lower doses. The aversive effect of WIN 55212-2 was reversed by SR 141716 (0.3–1 mg/kg), suggesting that it was accounted for by the stimulation of CB1 receptors. These findings indicate that, on their own, CB receptor agonists are unable to generate the processes necessary to induce a pleasurable state in animals, as assessed in place conditioning procedures. Nevertheless, a cannabinoid link may be involved in the neurobiological events, allowing the perception of the rewarding value of various kinds of reinforcers. However, a permanent endogenous cannabinoid tone seems unlikely to be necessary to ensure the organism a basal hedonic level since, given alone, SR 141716 supported neither CPP nor CPA.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. INSERM U.288, Faculty of Medicine Pitié-Salpêtrière, 91 bd de l’Hôpital, F-75634 Paris Cedex 13, France Fax (+33) 140779596, e-mail: thiebot@idf.ext.jussieu.fr, , , , , , FR
    Frédérique Chaperon & Marie-Hélène Thiébot
  2. Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine Pitié-Salpêtrière, 91 boulevard de l’Hôpital, F-75634 Paris Cedex 13, France, , , , , , FR
    Alain J. Puech
  3. SANOFI Recherche, 371 rue du Professeur J. Blayac, F-34184 Montpellier Cedex 04, France, , , , , , FR
    Philippe Soubrié

Authors

  1. Frédérique Chaperon
    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar
  2. Philippe Soubrié
    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar
  3. Alain J. Puech
    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar
  4. Marie-Hélène Thiébot
    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Received: 14 March 1997 / Final version: 28 July 1997

Rights and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Chaperon, F., Soubrié, P., Puech, A. et al. Involvement of central cannabinoid (CB1) receptors in the establishment of place conditioning in rats.Psychopharmacology 135, 324–332 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/s002130050518

Download citation