Attenuation of cue-induced reinstatement of nicotine seeking by URB597 through cannabinoid CB1 receptor in rats

Rationale The endocannabinoid system is composed of endocannabinoids (such as anandamide), their target receptors (CB1 and CB2 receptors, CB(1)Rs and CB(2)Rs), the enzymes that degrade them (fatty-acid-amide-hydrolase (FAAH) for anandamide), and an endocannabinoid transporter. FAAH inhibition has been recently identified as having a critical involvement in behaviors related to nicotine addiction and has been shown to reduce the effect of nicotine on the mesolimbic dopaminergic system via CB1R and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPAR alpha). Thus, inhibition of FAAH may represent a novel strategy for smoking cessation, but its mechanism of action on relapse to nicotine seeking is still unknown. Objective The study aims to explore the mechanism of action of the inhibitor of FAAH activity, URB597, on relapse to nicotine seeking by evaluating the effect of the CB1R, CB2R, and PPAR alpha antagonists on the attenuating effect of URB597 on cue-induced reinstatement of nicotine seeking in rats. Results URB597 reduced cue-induced reinstatement of nicotine seeking, an effect that was reversed by the CB1R antagonist rimonabant, but not by the CB2R or PPAR alpha antagonists AM630 and MK886, respectively. Conclusions These results indicate that URB597 reduces cue-induced reinstatement in rats through a CB1 receptor-dependent mechanism, and not via CB2R or PPAR alpha. Since FAAH inhibition represent a novel and promising strategy for tobacco smoking cessation, dissecting how it produces its action may lead to a better understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms underlying nicotine addiction.