Research Index | Medline Index

Authors

Gilbert PE

Title

A comparison of THC, nantradol, nabilone, and morphine in the chronic spinal dog.

Source

Journal of Clinical Pharmacology

Date

1981 Aug-Sep

Issue

21(8-9 Suppl)

Pages

311S-319S

Abstract

Morphine and delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) have been shown to have certain pharmacologic characteristics in common. Among these are antinociception, hypothermia, and the suppression of precipitated abstinence in morphine-dependent rats. In the present study the effects of morphine were compared with the effects of THC and two synthetic cannabinoids, nantradol and nabilone, in both nondependent and morphine-dependent chronic spinal dogs. Single doses of THC, nantradol, and nabilone depressed the flexor and skin twitch reflexes and had a calming effect after intravenous infusion. These effects are similar to those of morphine. Morphine, nantradol, and nabilone, but not THC, depressed rectal temperature. Unlike morphine, however, the cannabinoids produced mydriasis and an increased startle response, and these effects were not antagonized by naltrexone. THC, nantradol, and nabilone suppressed withdrawal abstinence in 40-hour and maximally abstinent morphine-dependent chronic spinal dogs. The results suggest that THC, nantradol, and nabilone share some properties with morphine since they increased the latency of the skin twitch reflex and suppressed withdrawal abstinence. It is doubtful, however, that these actions of the cannabinoids are mediated through opioid receptors since they were not antagonized by naltrexone.

Id Code

76054564

Authors

Hine B, Torrelio M, Gershon S

Title

Differential effect of cannabinol and cannabidiol on THC-induced responses during abstinence in morphine-dependent rats.

Source

Research Communications in Chemical Pathology & Pharmacology

Date

1975 Sep

Issue

12(1)

Pages

185-8

Abstract

The same dose of cannabinol (CBN) or cannabidiol (CBD) further increased the attenuation of precipitated abstinence signs observed in morphine-dependent rats that also received an acute dose of delta 9-THC. By contrast, rotational behavior (turning), which is observed concomitantly in THC-treated rats during morphine abstinence, was not increased by CBN, but was potentiated by CBD. These data illustrate differences between psychoinactive cannabinoids in their interaction with delta 9-THC that might be relevant to possible clinical use of Cannabis in narcotic detoxification.

Id Code

76177346

Authors

Hine B, Torrelio M, Gershon S

Title

Attenuation of precipitated abstinence in methadone-dependent rats by delta 9-THC.

Source

Psychopharmacology Communications

Date

1975

Issue

1(3)

Pages

275-83

Abstract

Racemic methadone hydrochloride was administered to male rats in daily subcutaneous injections of 10-30 mg/kg. Dependence, when assessed by naloxone challenge after 26 days, was quantitatively and qualitatively similar to that previously reported by us for rats implanted with a 75 mg morphine pellet for 72 hours. Abstinence scores in animals pretreated acutely with 10 mg/kg delta 9-THC one hour before naloxone were significantly less than those of a vehicle control group, and wet shakes and gastrointestinal signs of abstinence were blocked. These results extend previous observations of morphine abstinence attenuating properties of delta 9-THC to effects on animals dependent on methadone.

Id Code

75085639

Authors

Hine B, Friedman E, Torrelio M, Gershon S

Title

Morphine-dependent rats: blockade of precipitated abstinence by tetrahydrocannabinol.

Source

Science

Date

1975 Feb 7

Issue

187(4175)

Pages

443-5

Abstract

Male rats were implanted subcutaneously with a pellet containg 75 milligrams of morphine base or placebo, and naloxone hydrochloride (4 milligrams per kilogram of body weight) was administered 72 hours later. Treatment with delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (2, 5, or 10 milligrams per kilogram) 1 hour before maloxone administration significantly reduced the intensity of abstinence; the two higher doses blocked the appearance of wet shakes and escapes, diarrhea, and increased defecation. delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol did not induce abstinence itself, and prior treatment with cannabidiol was ineffective in reducing naloxoneprecipitated abstinence in animals with morphine pellets. These data suggest that delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol may be of value in facilitating narcotic detoxification.

Id Code

79180703

Authors

Zaluzny SG, Chesher GB, Jackson DM, Malor R

Title

The attenuation of delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol and morphine of the quasi-morphine withdrawal syndrome in rats.

Source

Psychopharmacology

Date

1979 Mar 22

Issue

61(2)

Pages

207-16

Abstract

The effect of delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), morphine, haloperidol and chlordiazepoxide on the exhibition of the signs of the quasi-morphine withdrawal syndrome was studied in rats. In preliminary studies approximately equi-sedative doses of these drugs were chosen. Morphine and THC produced a very similar degree of suppression of the signs of the quasi-morphine withdrawal, but unlike morphine, the effects of THC were not reversed by the narcotic antagonist, naloxone. The dopamine receptor antagonist, haloperidol, produced a moderate suppression of the withdrawal syndrome and chlordiazepoxide was without significant effect. It is concluded that THC is of very similar potency to morphine in suppressing the quasi-morphine withdrawal syndrome, but its activity in this regard does not appear to be dependent upon the availability of opiate or dopamine receptors, nor is it due to sedation alone.

Id Code

78116101

Authors

Bhargava HN

Title

Time course of the effects of naturally occurring cannabinoids on morphine abstinence syndrome.

Source

Pharmacology, Biochemistry & Behavior

Date

1978 Jan

Issue

8(1)

Pages

7-11

Abstract

The effects of a single intraperitoneal injection (10 mg/kg) of delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol, delta8-tetrahydrocannabinol and 11-hydroxy-delta8-tetrahydrocannabinol on abstinence syndrome were investigated in mice rendered dependent on morphine by pellet implantation. In morphine dependent mice from which the pellets had been removed, delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol inhibited the naloxone-precipitated jumping response as evidenced by an increase in the ED50 of naloxone. This inhibition was evident for 24 hr, the most pronounced effect being produced between two to four hr after delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol administration. Withdrawal defecation was also inhibited for two hours. Similarly, in mice from which pellets were not removed, delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol suppressed the jumping response; however, the intensity of effect was less than when the pellets were removed. delta8-tetrahydrocannabinol and 11-hydroxy-delta8-tetrahydrocannabinol were not effective in suppressing morphine abstinence syndrome two hr following their administration. The suppression of jumping response was specific, since, the vertical jumping behavior induced by coadministration of amphetamine and l-dopa was not affected by cannabinoids. These results demonstrate that single injection of delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol is effective in controlling morphine abstinence syndrome for 24 hr, and that the drugs related to cannabinoids may show promise in narcotic detoxification.

Id Code

77079529

Authors

Bhargava HN

Title

Effect of some cannabinoids on naloxone-precipitated abstinence in morphine-dependent mice.

Source

Psychopharmacology

Date

1976 Sep 29

Issue

49(3)

Pages

267-70

Abstract

Mice were rendered morphine-dependent by the subcutaneous implantation of a pellet containing 75 mg of morphine base; 72 h after the implantation, the animals were injected intraperitoneally either with vehicle or with various doses of delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol, delta8-tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabidiol, cannabinol, or 11-hydroxy-delta8-tetrahydrocannabinol. Thirty minutes after injection of the cannabinoids, the antagonist, naloxone HC1, was administered to induce the stereotyped withdrawal jumping syndrome. The dose of naloxone needed to induce withdrawal jumping in 50% of the animals (ED50) was determined for each dose of the cannabinoids. All of the cannabinoids inhibited the naloxone-precipitated morphine abstinence as evidenced by an increase in the naloxone ED50. Two additional signs of morphine abstinence, defecation and rearing behavior, were also suppressed by the cannabinoids. The relative effectiveness of the cannabinoids in inhibiting morphine abstinence appeared to be in the following order: delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol greater than delta8-tetrahydrocannabinol greater than 11-hydroxy-delta8-tetrahydrocannabinol greater than cannabidiol greater than cannabinol. These data suggest that cannabinoids may be useful in facilitating narcotic detoxification.

Id Code

76165417

Authors

Bhargava HN

Title

Inhibition of naloxone-induced withdrawal in morphine dependent mice by 1-trans-delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol.

Source

European Journal of Pharmacology

Date

1976 Mar

Issue

36(1)

Pages

259-62

Abstract

The effects of various doses of 1-trans-delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta9-THC) on naloxone-induced withdrawal were studied in mice rendered dependent on morphine by the pellet implantation procedure. When administered i.p., 30 min prior to naloxone, delta9-THC, inhibited the naloxone-induced withdrawal jumping response. Two other signs of morphine withdrawal (defecation and rearing behavior) were also suppressed by deltapTHC. It is suggested that delta9-THC or some of its derivatives may have potential use in narcotic detoxification.

Id Code

85298612

Authors

Chesher GB, Jackson DM

Title

The quasi-morphine withdrawal syndrome: effect of cannabinol, cannabidiol and tetrahydrocannabinol.

Source

Pharmacology, Biochemistry & Behavior

Date

1985 Jul

Issue

23(1)

Pages

13-5

Abstract

Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive principle of cannabis, has been shown to attenuate the exhibition of signs of the quasi-morphine withdrawal syndrome in rats. Cannabinol (CBN) showed the same activity but required a dosage of approximately eight times that of THC to produce an equivalent effect. Cannabidiol was without effect at the dosage levels used. The efficacy of these cannabinoids and the potency differences recorded in this study are in accord with their effects on other behaviours, both in experimental animals and in man. The activity of THC and CBN was not affected by the narcotic antagonist, naloxone.