Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 5, 2026

Identification of Orexin and Endocannabinoid Receptors in Adult Zebrafish Using Immunoperoxidase and Immunofluorescence Methods
Published on: June 25, 2019
Role of Endocannabinoid System in the Peripheral Antinociceptive Action of Aripiprazole
Renata C M Ferreira1, Ana F Almeida-Santos, Igor D G Duarte
1From the Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
Background:
Recently, we demonstrated that the antipsychotic dopaminergic and serotoninergic agonist aripiprazole induced peripheral antinociception. However, the mechanism underlying this effect has not been fully established. Here, our aim was to identify possible relationships between this action of aripiprazole and the endocannabinoid system.
Methods:
All drugs were given locally into the right hind paw of male Swiss mice weighing 30-35 g in a volume of 20 µL. The hyperalgesia was induced by intraplantar injection of prostaglandin E2 (2 μg). Aripiprazole was injected 10 minutes before the measurement, and an irreversible inhibitor of anandamide hydrolase (MAFP), an inhibitor for monoacylglycerol lipase (JZL184), and an anandamide reuptake inhibitor (VDM11) were given 10 minutes before the aripiprazole. Nociceptive thresholds were measured using an algesimetric apparatus in the third hour after prostaglandin E2 injection. Data were analyzed by ANOVA and Bonferroni tests.
Results:
The antinociceptive effect induced by aripiprazole (100 μg) was blocked by cannabinoid 1 or 2 receptor antagonists AM251 (40 μg [P < .01], 80 μg [P < .0001], and 160 μg [P < .0001]) and AM630 (100 μg [P < .0001], 200 μg [P < .0001], and 400 μg [P < .0001]), respectively. The peripheral antinociception induced by aripiprazole (25 μg) was enhanced by administration of the inhibitor of fatty acid amide hydrolase (MAFP, 0.5 μg [P < .0001]) or monoacylglycerol lipase (JZL184, 4 μg [P < .0001]). Moreover, a similar enhancement was observed with the anandamide reuptake inhibitor (VDM11, 2.5 μg [P < .0001]).
Conclusions:
These results provide evidence for the involvement of the endocannabinoid system in peripheral antinociception induced by aripiprazole treatment.
More Related Videos
07:30The Muscle Cuff Regenerative Peripheral Nerve Interface for the Amplification of Intact Peripheral Nerve Signals
Published on: January 13, 2022
08:16Partial Sciatic Nerve Ligation: A Mouse Model of Chronic Neuropathic Pain to Study the Antinociceptive Effect of Novel Therapies
Published on: October 6, 2022
Related Concept Videos
Fixed Action Patterns
Action Potentials
Action Potential
Membrane potential in neurons
Neurons typically have a resting membrane potential of about -70 millivolts (mV). When they receive...
Action Potential
Membrane potential in neurons
Neurons typically have a resting membrane potential of about -70 millivolts (mV). When they receive...
Antibody Actions
Neutralization
Antibodies can bind to pathogens, preventing them from infecting host cells. This process...
Principles of Drug Action
Drugs can be agonists or antagonists. Like the endogenous ligands, agonists always bind and activate the target to produce a cellular response. Agonist binding induces a conformational change which in turn...