Cannabinoid dependence induces sustained changes in GABA release in the globus pallidus without affecting dopamine release in the dorsal striatum: A dual microdialysis probe study

A dual probe microdialysis study was designed to characterize GABA and dopamine (DA) release in the basal ganglia of cannabinoid ‐dependent Wistar rats. Whereas chronic administration of the cannabinoid receptor agonist WIN55,212 (WIN) resulted in increased basal GABA release, the D2 agonist receptor‐mediated control of GABA and DA release elicited by quinpirole was similar in both cannabinoid‐dependent and non dependen t animals. However, quinpirole did induce a greater number of more stereotypies in cannabinoid‐dependent animals, indicating a dysregulated behavioral response. AbstractDisruption of motor behavior is a common symptom found in cannabinoid ‐dependent animals. It is probably derived from dysregulation of basal ganglia circuits, especially the strio‐pallidal efferent pathway as suggested by previous reports. In the present study, we analyzed the functional consequences of the chronic administration of the synthetic cannabinoid WIN 5 5 212 (2 mg/kg, twice a day for 14 days) on GABA and dopamine release in the basal ganglia of dependent animals by means of dual microdialysis monitoring. GABA release was measured in the globus pallidus externus, whereas dopamine release was monitored in the dorsal striatum. Chronic administrati on of WIN 55 212‐2 resulted in almost a twofold tonic increase in GABA release in the globus pallidus, whereas it did not affect dopamine release. The systemic administration of the dopamine D2 receptor agonist quinpirole (0...

Source: Addiction Biology - November 13, 2018 Category: Addiction Authors: Margarita Moreno, Juan Decara, Francisco Javier Pavon, David G. Stouffer, Scott Edwards, Antonia Serrano, Juan Su árez, Loren H. Parsons, Fernando Rodríguez de Fonseca Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research