Abstract
The present study investigated the effects of different classes of cannabinoid (CB) receptor ligands on sensory neurotransmission in the rat isolated mesenteric arterial bed. Electrical field stimulation of the mesenteric bed evoked frequency-dependent vasorelaxation due to the activation of capsaicin-sensitive sensory nerves and release of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). The CB1/CB2 cannabinoid agonists WIN55,212 [(R)-(+)-[2,3-dihydro-5-methyl-3-(4-morpholinylmethyl)pyrrolo[1,2,3-de]-1,4-benzoxazin-6-yl]-1-naphthalenylmethanone] and CP55,940 [(-)-cis-3-[2-hydroxy-4-(1,1-dimethylheptyl)phenyl]-trans-4-(3-hydroxypropyl) cyclohexanol] (0.01–1 μM) attenuated sensory neurogenic relaxation in a concentration-dependent manner. At 0.1 μM, WIN55,212 and CP55,940 were largely ineffective in the presence of the CB1 antagonists SR141716A [N-piperidino-5-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-(2,4-dichloro phenyl)-4-methyl-3-pyrazole-carboxamide] and LY320135 [[6-methoxy-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)benzo[b]-thien-3-yl][4-cyanophenyl] methanone] (1 μM), but their inhibitory actions remained in the presence of the CB2-selective antagonist SR144528 [N-[1S)-endo-1,3,3,-trimetyl bicyclo [2.2.1]heptan-2-yl]-5-(4-chloro-3-methylphenyl)-1-(4-methylbenzyl)-pyrazole-3-carboxamide] (1 μM). The CB1/CB2 agonist Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) (1 μM) attenuated sensory neurogenic relaxations, as did the CB2 agonist JWH-015 [(2-methyl-1-propyl-1H-indol-3-yl)-1-naphthalenylmethanone]. The inhibitory actions of both THC and JWH-015 were still evident in the presence of SR141716A (1 μM) and SR144528 (1 μM). None of the cannabinoid agonists investigated had an effect on vasorelaxation elicited by exogenous CGRP, indicating a prejunctional mechanism. These data demonstrate that different classes of cannabinoid agonists attenuate sensory neurotransmission via a prejunctional site and provide evidence for mediation by a CB1 and/or a non-CB1/CB2 receptor.
Footnotes
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This study was supported by Servier and the University of Nottingham.
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Article, publication date, and citation information can be found at http://jpet.aspetjournals.org.
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doi:10.1124/jpet.104.067587.
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ABBREVIATIONS: CB, cannabinoid; THC, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol; CGRP, calcitonin gene-related peptide; TRPV1, vanilloid receptor; DRG, dorsal root ganglia; EFS, electrical field stimulation.
- Received March 10, 2004.
- Accepted June 15, 2004.
- The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
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