ISSN:
1432-2072
Keywords:
Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol
;
Clomipramine
;
Withdrawal-like behaviour
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract Rats chronically treated with increasing daily doses of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) for up to 5 or 10 days exhibit a withdrawal-like behavioural response when challenged with clomipramine, a potent inhibitor of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine) reuptake, at the time when the next injection of Δ9-THC was due. To determine whether this response is indeed a withdrawal syndrome, different groups of rats were injected IV twice daily for up to 5 days with either Δ9-THC, in doses increasing from 2–6 mg/kg, or polyvinyl-pyrrolidone (PVP), the vehicle in which Δ9-THC was suspended. On day 6, an acute dose of 6 mg/kg Δ9-THC was given 30 min before IP clomipramine (15 mg/kg). The total behavioural response, which included writhing, backward kicking, jumping, head shaking, and paw tremor, was attenuated in rats chronically treated with Δ9-THC, but not in rats which received an acute dose of PVP. These results lend further evidence to our hypothesis that chronically administered Δ9-THC produces a state of physical dependence in the rat.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00431112
Permalink
