Cannabinoid receptor CB1 in the basal ganglia and its participation in the degenerative process in Parkinson\'s Disease models.

Author(s)

Gabriela Pena Chaves Kirsten

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB/SDI)
• Defense date: 2013-04-16

Examining board members

Andréa da Silva Torrão; José Donato Júnior; Sara Joyce Shammah Lagnado; Raquel Simoni Pires; Jair Guilherme dos Santos Junior

• Advisor: Andréa da Silva Torrão

Abstract

Cannabinoid receptors CB1 are abundantly expressed in the basal ganglia (BG), suggesting the involvement of the cannabinoid system in Parkinson\'s disease (PD). The objectives of this study were to investigate the location of CB1 in BG of rats; evaluate the time course expression of CB1 and neuronal markers in an experimental model of PD in vivo, and evaluate the effects of treatment with cannabinoids compounds in experimental models of PD in vivo and in vitro. Our results showed that CB1 is predominantly expressed in GABAergic neurons in BG. The dopamine lesion produced distinct temporal changes in the expression of CB1 in BG structures. Treatment with the cannabinoid agonist ACEA aggravated the dopaminergic lesion and the motor behavioral performance. Moreover, the treatment with the antagonist AM 251, although have not generated neurochemical changes,it promoted improvements in behavioral tests. Finally, in our in vitro model, the treatment with Anandamide transport inhibitor AM 404 led to a slight reduction in the levels of cell death. (AU)