The cannabinoid CB1 receptor is involved in the anxiolytic, sedative and amnesic actions of benzodiazepines
May 30th, 2010Author: drugsPrevious studies in our laboratory sho wed that cannabinoid CB1 receptor knockout mice (CB1-/-) presented increased anxiety-like behaviours that did not respond to the anxiolytic actions of benzodiazepines. These results suggest that the pharmacological effects of benzodiazepines may involve the participation of cannabinoid CB1 receptors. Therefore, the purpose of t his study was to examine the effects of alprazolam and the cannabinoid CB1 receptor antagonist AM251 on behavioural assays (light—dark box test, neurological severity score and step-down inhibitory avoidance test) and on the functional activity of the CB1 receptor (WIN-55,212-stimulated [35S] guanosine triphosphate (GTP) binding autoradiography).The administration of alprazolam (40 µg/kg, intraperitoneal (i.p.)) decre…
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