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Intracerebellar cannabinoid administration impairs delay but not trace eyeblink conditioning
Adam B Steinmetz1, John H Freeman1
1Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242 USA.
Behavioural Brain Research
|September 28, 2019
Summary
Cannabinoid agonists impair delay eyeblink conditioning (EBC) in rats. However, trace EBC, a form of associative learning, remains unaffected by these compounds, suggesting distinct cerebellar mechanisms.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Behavioral Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Cannabinoid agonists impair cerebellum-dependent delay eyeblink conditioning (EBC) in rats.
- Previous research suggests systemic cannabinoid agonists do not impair trace EBC, indicating cerebellar cannabinoid receptors may not be involved in trace EBC.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of cannabinoid agonists on different types of EBC.
- To precisely assess cannabinoid effects on cerebellar learning mechanisms using targeted infusions.
Main Methods:
- Administered the cannabinoid agonist WIN55,212-2 (WIN) into the rat cerebellar cortex (eyeblink microzone).
- Tested WIN's effects on short delay (250 ms CS), long delay (750 ms CS), and trace (250 ms CS, 500 ms trace interval) EBC.
- Assessed recovery and savings after drug washout.
Main Results:
- WIN infusion did not affect spontaneous blinks or non-associative responses.
- Short and long delay EBC were significantly impaired by WIN.
- Trace EBC remained unaffected by WIN infusion.
Conclusions:
- Cerebellar mechanisms underlying delay EBC are sensitive to cannabinoid agonists.
- Trace EBC is mediated by mechanisms within the cerebellum that are resistant to cannabinoid agonists.
