Cannabinoid receptor antagonism and inverse agonism in response to SR141716A on cAMP production in human and rat brain

The effects of cannabinoid drugs on CAMP production were examined in mammalian brain. The cannabinoid receptor agonist (R)-(+)-[2,3-dihydro-5-methyl-3-[(4-morpholinyl)methyl]pyrrolo[1,2,3,-d,e-1,4-benzoxazin-6-yl]-(1-naphthalenyl) methanone (WIN55, 212-2) decreased forskolin-induced CAMP accumulation in a concentration-dependent manner (10(-8)-10(-5) M) in membranes from several rat and human brain regions, this effect being antagonized by 10(-5) M N-(piperidin-1-yl)-5-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-4methyl-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxamide (SR141716A). Furthermore, high micromolar concentrations of SR141716A evoked a dose-dependent increase in basal CAMP in rat cerebellum and cortex, as well as in human frontal cortex. This effect was antagonized by WTN55,212-2 and abolished by N-ethylmaleimide, consistent with the involvement of cannabinoid CB1 receptors through the activation of G(10) proteins. These results suggest a ligand-independent activity for cannabinoid CB1 receptor signaling cascade in mammalian brain. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.