Abstract
The mechanism of action responsible for the motor depressant effects of cannabinoids, which operate through centrally expressed cannabinoid CB1 receptors, is still a matter of debate. In the present study, we report that CB1 and adenosine A2A receptors form heteromeric complexes in co-transfected HEK-293T cells and rat striatum, where they colocalize in fibrilar structures. In a human neuroblastoma cell line, CB1 receptor signaling was found to be completely dependent on A2A receptor activation. Accordingly, blockade of A2A receptors counteracted the motor depressant effects produced by the intrastriatal administration of a cannabinoid CB1 receptor agonist. These biochemical and behavioral findings demonstrate that the profound motor effects of cannabinoids depend on physical and functional interactions between striatal A2A and CB1 receptors.
Publication types
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Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Adenosine A2 Receptor Agonists
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Analysis of Variance
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Animals
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Arachidonic Acids / pharmacology
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Behavior, Animal
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Cannabinoids / agonists
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Cannabinoids / antagonists & inhibitors
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Cannabinoids / pharmacology*
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Cell Line, Transformed
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Corpus Striatum / drug effects*
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Corpus Striatum / metabolism
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Cyclic AMP / metabolism
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Drug Interactions
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Humans
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Luminescent Proteins / metabolism
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Male
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Mice
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
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Mice, Knockout
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Motor Activity / drug effects*
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Protein Binding / drug effects
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Rats
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Rats, Wistar
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Receptor, Adenosine A2A / deficiency
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Receptor, Adenosine A2A / physiology*
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Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1 / agonists
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Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1 / deficiency
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Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1 / physiology*
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Transfection
Substances
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Adenosine A2 Receptor Agonists
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Arachidonic Acids
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Cannabinoids
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Luminescent Proteins
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Receptor, Adenosine A2A
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Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1
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arachidonyl-2-chloroethylamide
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Cyclic AMP