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. 2008 Feb 1;63(3):286-92.
doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2007.07.020. Epub 2007 Oct 24.

Involvement of kappa-opioid and endocannabinoid system on Salvinorin A-induced reward

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Involvement of kappa-opioid and endocannabinoid system on Salvinorin A-induced reward

Daniela Braida et al. Biol Psychiatry. .

Abstract

Background: The recreational drug, Salvinorin A, derived from the plant of Salvia divinorum, is a potent and selective kappa-opioid receptor agonist. The abuse of selective k-agonists is a novel phenomenon, the mechanism of which is not fully understood.

Methods: We investigated salvinorin A given SC on the conditioned place preference (.05-160 microg/kg) and intracerebroventricular (ICV) self-administration (.01-1 microg/infusion) paradigms, in Wistar rats.

Results: The present results demonstrate the rewarding effects of Salvinorin A in a range of doses between .1 and 40 microg/kg SC for conditioned place preference test and .1-.5 microg/infusion for ICV self-administration. Highest doses (160 microg/kg for conditioned place preference test and 1 microg/infusion for ICV self-administration) were aversive. The rewarding effect was antagonized by intraperitoneal (IP) pretreatment with the cannabinoid CB(1) receptor antagonist, rimonabant [N-piperidino-5-(4-chlorophenyl)1-(2,4-dichloro phenyl)-4 methyl pyrazole 3-carboxamide] (1 mg/kg), and the kappa-opioid receptor antagonist, nor-binaltorphimine (nor-BNI) (10 mg/kg). In the shell of nucleus accumbens, dopamine extracellular levels were increased after administration of salvinorin A (40 microg/kg SC), reaching a maximum value of about 150%.

Conclusions: These data provide the demonstration of the rewarding effects of Salvinorin A through an interaction between kappa-opioid and (endo)cannabinoid system in rats.

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