Research article summary (published 18 Dec 2002):

Involvement of reduced acetylcholine release in Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol-induced impairment of spatial memory in the 8-arm radial maze.

Full Abstract

To clarify the mechanism by which Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol, a major psychoactive component of marijuana, impairs spatial memory in the 8-arm radial maze in rats via the cholinergic system, we used two acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, physostigmine and tetrahydroaminoacridine. Moreover, we examined the effect of Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol on acetylcholine release in the frontal cortex and dorsal and ventral hippocampus using in vivo microdialysis. Physostigmine (0.01-0.05 mg/kg, i.p.) and tetrahydroaminoacridine (1-5 mg/kg, p.o.) improved the impairment of spatial memory induced by Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (6 mg/kg, i.p.) in the 8-arm radial maze. Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (6 mg/kg, i.p.) produced a significant decrease in acetylcholine release in the dorsal hippocampus as assessed by microdialysis. Moreover, tetrahydroaminoacridine at a dose of 1 mg/kg, which improved the impairment of spatial memory, reversed the decrease in acetylcholine release induced by Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol in the dorsal hippocampus during 60-120 min after the Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol injection. These findings suggest that inhibition of the cholinergic pathway by reduced acetylcholine release is one of the means by which Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol impairs spatial memory in the 8-arm radial maze.

Author information

Author/s: Mishima, Kenichi (K); Egashira, Nobuaki (N); Matsumoto, Yoshiaki (Y); Iwasaki, Katsunori (K); Fujiwara, Michihiro (M);

Affiliation: Department of Neuropharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Fukuoka University, 814-0180, Fukuoka, Japan.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Life sciences (Life Sci), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2002-Dec; vol 72 (issue 4-5) : pp 397-407

Dates: Created 2002/12/06; Completed 2003/01/27; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 12467880, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Acetylcholine - metabolism; physiology Animals Cerebral Cortex - drug effects; metabolism Cholinesterase Inhibitors - pharmacology Cognition Disorders - chemically induced; psychology Hallucinogens - pharmacology Hippocampus - drug effects; metabolism Male Maze Learning - drug effects

Memory - drug effects Memory Disorders - chemically induced; psychology Microdialysis Physostigmine - pharmacology Rats Rats, Wistar Space Perception - drug effects Tacrine - pharmacology Tetrahydrocannabinol - pharmacology

Associated Chemicals: Cholinesterase Inhibitors (0) ; Hallucinogens (0) ; Tetrahydrocannabinol (1972-08-3) ; Tacrine (321-64-2) ; Acetylcholine (51-84-3) ; Physostigmine (57-47-6)

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