Cannabis withdrawal syndrome (CWS) in humans is characterized by various somatic symptoms, including sleep disturbances. In the present study, we investigated sleep alterations in mice after the cessation of arachidonylcyclopropylamide (ACPA), a cannabinoid type 1 receptor agonist, administration. ACPA-administered mice (ACPA mice) displayed an increased number of rearings after the cessation of ACPA administration compared to saline-administered mice (Saline mice). Moreover, the number of rubbings was also decreased in ACPA mice compared with those of the control mice. Electroencephalography (EEG) and electromyography (EMG) were measured for 3 days after the cessation of ACPA administration. During ACPA administration, there was no difference in the relative amounts of total sleep and wake time between ACPA and Saline mice. However, ACPA-induced withdrawal decreased total sleep time during the light period in ACPA mice after ACPA cessation. These results suggest that ACPA cessation induces sleep disturbances in the mouse model of CWS.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdfdirect/10.1002/npr2.12329

Sleep disturbance after cessation of cannabis administration in mice.

Women are taking the hit: Examining the unique consequences of cannabis use across the female lifespan

Shati/Nat8l Overexpression Improves Cognitive Decline by Upregulating Neuronal Trophic Factor in Alzheimer’s Disease Model Mice

Patterns of drug ingestion may have a dissimilar impact on the brain, and therefore also the development of drug addiction. One pattern is binge intoxication that refers to the ingestion of a high amount of drug on a single occasion followed by an abstinence period of variable duration. In this study, our goal was to contrast the effect of continuous low amounts with intermittent higher amounts of Arachidonyl-chloro-ethylamide (ACEA), a CB1R agonist, on amphetamine seeking and ingestion, and describe the effects on the expression of CB1R and CRFR1 in the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) and in the nucleus accumbens shell (NAcS). Adult male Wistar rats were treated with a daily administration of vehicle or 20 μg of ACEA, or four days of vehicle followed by 100 μg of ACEA on the fifth day, for a total of 30 days. Upon completion of this treatment, the CB1R and CRFR1 expression in the CeA and NAcS was evaluated by immunofluorescence. Additional groups of rats were evaluated for their anxiety levels (elevated plus maze, EPM), amphetamine (AMPH) self-administration (ASA) and breakpoint (A-BP), as well as AMPH-induced conditioned place preference (A-CPP). Results indicated that ACEA induced changes in the CB1R and CRFR1 expression in both the NAcS and CeA. An increase in anxiety-like behavior, ASA, A-BP and A-CPP was also observed. Since the intermittent administration of 100 μg of ACEA induced the most evident changes in most of the parameters studied, we concluded that binge-like ingestion of drugs induces changes in the brain that may make the subject more vulnerable to developing drug addiction. 

CB1R chronic intermittent pharmacological activation facilitates amphetamine seeking and self-administration and changes in CB1R/CRFR1 expression in the amygdala and nucleus accumbens in rats

Atsumi Nitta

Papers

Cannabinoid Type 1 Receptors in the Basolateral Amygdala Regulate ACPA-Induced Place Preference and Anxiolytic-Like Behaviors

Cannabinoid Type 1 Receptors in the Basolateral Amygdala Regulate ACPA-Induced Place Preference and Anxiolytic-Like Behaviors

N-Acetyl Transferase, Shati/Nat8l, in the Dorsal Hippocampus Suppresses Aging-induced Impairment of Cognitive Function in Mice

Sleep disturbance after cessation of cannabis administration in mice.

Knockdown of Piccolo in the Nucleus Accumbens Suppresses Methamphetamine-Induced Hyperlocomotion and Conditioned Place Preference in Mice