Physiological and behavioural effects of the endogenous cannabinoid, arachidonylethanolamide (anandamide), in the rat. Br J Pharmacol 1996 Sep;119(1):107-14
Date
09/01/1996Pubmed ID
8872363Pubmed Central ID
PMC1915721DOI
10.1111/j.1476-5381.1996.tb15683.xScopus ID
2-s2.0-0029812415 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 73 CitationsAbstract
1. Arachidonylethanolamide (AEA; anandamide) has been isolated from mammalian brain and found to bind to, and is thought to be, an endogenous ligand for the cannabinoid receptor. In order to understand better its behavioural and physiological properties, we have examined its acute effects in unanaesthetized freely behaving rats. 2. Intravenous AEA caused dose-related decreases in locomotor behaviour, a pronounced hyperreflexia, and a moderate antinociceptive state. At doses between 3 and 30 mg kg-1, a dose-dependent hypothermia and profound, time-dependent cardiovascular changes were also observed. 3. An immediate bradycardia exceeding 50% was seen within 10-15 s of administration and lasted up to 11 min following the highest dose of the drug. In contrast, the change in mean arterial pressure was biphasic: an immediate 20% decrease in mean arterial pressure followed by a significant increase in blood pressure that lasted about 13 min after the highest dose. 4. These data demonstrate that AEA in the unanaesthetized rat exerts behavioural and physiological effects generally similar to those seen following natural cannabinoids and synthetic cannabimimetic agents and suggests a role for AEA in regulation of various physiological processes.
Author List
Stein EA, Fuller SA, Edgemond WS, Campbell WBAuthor
William B. Campbell PhD Professor in the Pharmacology and Toxicology department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AnalgesiaAnimals
Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
Arachidonic Acid
Arachidonic Acids
Behavior, Animal
Blood Pressure
Calcium Channel Blockers
Cannabinoids
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
Endocannabinoids
Heart Rate
Hypothermia
Indomethacin
Male
Polyunsaturated Alkamides
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley