Biomaterial Database

Potent effects of a selective cannabinoid receptor agonist on some guinea pig medial vestibular nucleus neurons. 1998

D Newsham-West, and C L Darlington, and P F Smith

Department of Pharmacology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Otago Medical School, Dunedin, New Zealand.

Binding studies have indicated that the density of the cannabinoid CB, receptor is very low in the vestibular nucleus complex compared to other areas of the central nervous system (CNS), suggesting that CB1 receptors may have little functional significance for the vestibular nucleus. However, the dizziness often produced by cannabis suggests that the vestibular system may be implicated. We investigated the effects of the selective CB1 receptor agonist, CP 55940 (the levorotatory enantiomer of desacetyllevonantradol), on medial vestibular nucleus neurons in guinea pig brainstem slices in vitro. Only 3/18 medial vestibular nucleus neurons tested with 1 microM CP 55940 showed changes in firing rate, however these were decreases with an average magnitude of 72.3%; 3/4 neurons tested with 10 microM CP 55940 showed decreases with an average magnitude of 92.7% (P < 0.05 in both cases). In all cases the effects of CP 55940 were long-lasting. These results suggest that despite the low density of CB1 receptors in the vestibular nucleus complex, they may be of functional significance for the behavioural effects of cannabis use.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009474	Neurons	The basic cellular units of nervous tissue. Each neuron consists of a body, an axon, and dendrites. Their purpose is to receive, conduct, and transmit impulses in the NERVOUS SYSTEM.	Nerve Cells,Cell, Nerve,Cells, Nerve,Nerve Cell,Neuron
D011955	Receptors, Drug	Proteins that bind specific drugs with high affinity and trigger intracellular changes influencing the behavior of cells. Drug receptors are generally thought to be receptors for some endogenous substance not otherwise specified.	Drug Receptors,Drug Receptor,Receptor, Drug
D002186	Cannabinoids	Compounds having the cannabinoid structure. They were originally extracted from Cannabis sativa L. The most pharmacologically active constituents are TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL; CANNABINOL; and CANNABIDIOL.	Cannabinoid
D003511	Cyclohexanols	Monohydroxy derivatives of cyclohexanes that contain the general formula R-C6H11O. They have a camphorlike odor and are used in making soaps, insecticides, germicides, dry cleaning, and plasticizers.	Cyclohexanol
D006168	Guinea Pigs	A common name used for the genus Cavia. The most common species is Cavia porcellus which is the domesticated guinea pig used for pets and biomedical research.	Cavia,Cavia porcellus,Guinea Pig,Pig, Guinea,Pigs, Guinea
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D014726	Vestibular Nuclei	The four cellular masses in the floor of the fourth ventricle giving rise to a widely dispersed special sensory system. Included is the superior, medial, inferior, and LATERAL VESTIBULAR NUCLEUS. (From Dorland, 27th ed)	Schwalbe Nucleus,Vestibular Nucleus, Medial,Schwalbe's Nucleus,Medial Vestibular Nucleus,Nuclei, Vestibular,Nucleus, Medial Vestibular,Nucleus, Schwalbe,Nucleus, Schwalbe's,Schwalbes Nucleus
D043882	Receptors, Cannabinoid	A class of G-protein-coupled receptors that are specific for CANNABINOIDS such as those derived from CANNABIS. They also bind a structurally distinct class of endogenous factors referred to as ENDOCANNABINOIDS. The receptor class may play a role in modulating the release of signaling molecules such as NEUROTRANSMITTERS and CYTOKINES.	Cannabinoid Receptor,Cannabinoid Receptors,Receptor, Cannabinoid
D066298	In Vitro Techniques	Methods to study reactions or processes taking place in an artificial environment outside the living organism.	In Vitro Test,In Vitro Testing,In Vitro Tests,In Vitro as Topic,In Vitro,In Vitro Technique,In Vitro Testings,Technique, In Vitro,Techniques, In Vitro,Test, In Vitro,Testing, In Vitro,Testings, In Vitro,Tests, In Vitro,Vitro Testing, In