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Updated: Aug 9, 2026
Assessment of Cocaine-induced Behavioral Sensitization and Conditioned Place Preference in Mice
Published on: February 18, 2016
Involvement of cannabinoid CB1 and CB2 receptor activity in the development of behavioural sensitization to
Leos Landa1, Alexandra Sulcova, Karel Slais
1Masaryk University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Brno, Czech Republic. landa@med.muni.cz
Objectives:
An increased behavioural response ("behavioural sensitization") to drugs of abuse occurs after repeated treatment. In the present study the possibility of cross-sensitization existence between various cannabinoid receptor ligands--CB1 agonist methanandamide, CB2 agonist JWH 015, and CB1 antagonist AM 251 with methamphetamine was explored.
Methods:
Locomotion in the open field was measured in naive mice and in those pre-treated acutely and repeatedly (for 8 days), respectively, with either vehicle or tested drugs.
Results:
Methamphetamine produced significant sensitization to its stimulatory effect on locomotion. Methanandamide pre-treatment elicited cross-sensitization to methamphetamine effect, whereas pre-treatment with JWH 015 did not. Combined pre-treatment with methamphetamine+AM 251 suppressed sensitization to methamphetamine.
Conclusions:
These results suggest that the activity of the endocannabinoid system is involved in the neuronal circuitry underlying the development of sensitization to methamphetamine.
