The CB1 cannabinoid receptor antagonist rimonabant chronically prevents the nicotine-induced relapse to alcohol.

Full Abstract

Preclinical and clinical research shows that the cannabinoid brain receptor type 1 (CB(1)) modulates alcohol- and nicotine-related behaviors. Throughout the nicotine-induced relapse to alcohol, the rats were pre-treated for 10 days with the CB(1) cannabinoid receptor antagonist rimonabant (0, 0.03, 0.3 and 3.0 mg/kg i.p.). In this condition, a long-lasting nicotine-induced relapse to alcohol was observed, and this effect was reversed in a dose-dependent manner with rimonabant. Surprisingly, rats that were not exposed to nicotine developed tolerance to the effects of rimonabant from the sixth day. Also, 3.0 mg/kg of rimonabant reduced the responses for sucrose. Evaluation in the Elevated Plus-Maze after nicotine treatment did not reveal anxiogenic effects. Finally, at the conclusion of rimonabant treatment, a rapid reinstatement of alcohol consumption was detected. These results suggest that rimonabant can prevent the relapse to alcohol, even when an interaction with nicotine exists-the most frequent situation in human alcohol abuse.

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Author information

Author/s: López-Moreno, José Antonio (JA); González-Cuevas, Gustavo (G); Navarro, Miguel (M);

Affiliation: Department of Psychobiology, Faculty of Psychology, Campus de Somosaguas, Complutense University of Madrid, 28223 Madrid, Spain. jalopezm(-atsign-)psi.ucm.es

Journal and publication information

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

Journal: Neurobiology of disease (Neurobiol Dis), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2007-Feb; vol 25 (issue 2) : pp 274-83

Dates: Created 2007/01/26; Completed 2007/04/11; Revised 2007/10/17;

PMID: 17067804, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Alcohol-Induced Disorders, Nervous System - chemically induced; drug therapy; physiopathology
Alcoholism - drug therapy; physiopathology; prevention & control
Animals
Anxiety Disorders - chemically induced; drug therapy; physiopathology
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
Drug Administration Schedule
Drug Interactions - physiology
Drug Synergism
Male
Maze Learning - drug effects; physiology
Nicotine - adverse effects

Nicotine - adverse effects
Nicotinic Agonists - adverse effects
Piperidines - pharmacology; therapeutic use
Pyrazoles - pharmacology; therapeutic use
Rats
Rats, Wistar
Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1 - antagonists & inhibitors; metabolism
Recurrence - prevention & control
Reinforcement (Psychology)
Substance Withdrawal Syndrome - drug therapy; metabolism; physiopathology
Sucrose - pharmacology

Associated Chemicals: Nicotinic Agonists (0) ; Piperidines (0) ; Pyrazoles (0) ; Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1 (0) ; rimonabant (158681-13-1) ; Nicotine (54-11-5) ; Sucrose (57-50-1)

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