κ- and δ-opioid receptor functional activities are increased in the caudate putamen of cannabinoid CB1 receptor knockout mice

The purpose of this study was to examine the functional interaction between endogenous opioid and cannabinoid receptor systems in the caudate putamen and nucleus accumbens. We therefore examined by autoradiography the functional activity and density of mu-, kappa- and delta-opioid receptors in both brain regions of cannabinoid CB1 receptor knockout mice. Functional activity was estimated by measuring agonist-stimulated [S-35]GTP gamma S binding. Results showed that deletion of the CB1 cannabinoid receptor markedly increased kappa-opioid (50%) and delta-opioid (42%) receptor activities whereas no differences were found in mu-opioid receptor in the caudate putamen. In contrast, binding autoradiography showed a similar density of mu-, kappa- and delta-opioid receptors between mutant and wild-type mice. No differences were found in densities or activities of mu-, kappa- and delta-opioid receptors between mutant and wild-type mice in the nucleus accumbens. Taken together, our results revealed that deletion of CB1 cannabinoid receptors produced a pronounced increase in the activity of kappa- and delta-opioid receptors in the caudate putamen. This endogenous interaction between opioid and cannabinoid receptors may be relevant to further understand a variety of neuroadaptative processes involving the participation of opioid receptors, such as motor behaviour, emotional responses and drug dependence.