The interactive effects of verapamil and CB1cannabinoid receptor antagonist/inverse agonist, AM251 on passive avoidance learning and memory in rat

Seyed Asaad Karimi, Mariam Noorbakhsh, Hamidreza Komaki, Mohammad Reza Nikoo, Parisa Hasanein, Siamak Shahidi, Nafiseh Faraji, Alireza Komaki*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

There are reports regarding the effects of intracellular Ca2+ and synthesis and release of endocannabinoids. The secretion of endocannabinoids depends on the L-type calcium channel. The present study evaluated the involvement of the cannabinoid CB1 receptors in the effect of L-type calcium channel blocker verapamil on passive avoidance learning (PAL) in adult male rats. In this study, we examined the effects of an acute administration of the cannabinoid CB1 receptors antagonist/inverse agonist AM251 following a chronic administration of the Ca2+ channel blocker verapamil on PAL. Male Wistar rats were administered verapamil (10, 25 and 50 mg/kg) or saline intraperitoneally (i.p) daily for 13 days (n = 10/group). After this treatment period, a learning test (acquisition) was performed, and a retrieval test was performed the following day. The results indicated that chronic systemic administration of verapamil (in a dose-dependent manner) impaired memory acquisition and retrieval. Pre-training acute administration of a selective CB1 antagonist/inverse agonist, AM251 (5 mg/kg, i.p.) did not change memory acquisition and retrieval. Co-administration of the verapamil and AM251 significantly reversed verapamil-induced amnesia, suggesting a functional interaction between AM251 and verapamil. The results indicated the interactive effects of cannabinoid CB1 receptors and L-type calcium channel in passive avoidance learning and AM251 can counter the effects of verapamil on memory.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)222-229
Number of pages8
JournalBehavioural Pharmacology
Volume33
Issue number23
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Nov 29 2021

Keywords

  • AM251
  • cannabinoid CB1 receptor
  • memory
  • passive avoidance
  • verapamil
  • Endocannabinoids/pharmacology
  • Avoidance Learning
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Cannabinoids/pharmacology
  • Pyrazoles
  • Rats
  • Calcium/pharmacology
  • Male
  • Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists/pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Verapamil/pharmacology
  • Piperidines
  • Cannabinoid Receptor Antagonists/pharmacology
  • Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1
  • Calcium Channels, L-Type/pharmacology

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pharmacology
  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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