Journal
PHARMACOLOGY BIOCHEMISTRY AND BEHAVIOR
Volume 88, Issue 3, Pages 230-237Publisher
PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2007.08.005
Keywords
Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC); cannabinoid; CBI receptor; SR141716A; cognitive deficits; water T-maze; extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)
Ask authors/readers for more resources
We have previously reported that an injection of a single, extremely low dose (0.001 mg/kg) of Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinal (THC, the major psychoactive ingredient of marijuana) to mice deteriorated their performance in the Morris water maze test 3 weeks later. In the present study we verify our original findings and show that the long-Term cognitive deficits that are induced in mice by a low dose of THC are even more pronounced in another behavioral test-the water. T-maze. This effect was abolished by the CB1 receptor antagonist SR141716A, indicating the involvement of CBI receptors. In an attempt to find a biochemical correlate to these deleterious consequences of such a low dose of THC, we investigated its effect on the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2) in the cerebellum and hippocampus of the mice, two brain regions that were shown to participate in spatial learning. A significant increase in ERK1/2 phosphorylation was found in the cerebellum of mice 24 h following the injection of 0.001 mg/kg THC. These findings lead to further studies into the neuronal mechanisms underlying the long-term deleterious effects of THC and should be taken into consideration when evaluating the therapeutic benefits of cannabinoid drugs. (C) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available