Synthetic cannabinoid compounds are marketed as "legal" marijuana substitutes, even though little is known about their behavioral effects in relation to their pharmacokinetic profiles. Therefore, in the present study we assessed the behavioral effects of systemic treatment with the two synthetic cannabinoids JWH-073 and JWH-210 and the phytocannabinoid Δ9-THC on locomotor activity, anxiety-like phenotype (in the open field) and sensorimotor gating (measured as prepulse inhibition of the acoustic startle response, PPI), in relation to cannabinoid serum levels. Wistar rats were injected subcutaneously (sc.) with JWH-073 (0.1, 0.5, or 5 mg/kg), JWH-210 (0.1, 0.5, or 5 mg/kg), Δ9-THC (1 or 3 mg/kg) or vehicle (oleum helanti) in a volume of 0.5 ml/kg and tested in the open field and PPI. Although JWH-073, JWH-210, Δ9-THC (and its metabolites) were confirmed in serum, effects on sensorimotor gating were absent, and locomotor activity was only partially affected. Δ9-THC (3 mg/kg) elicited an anxiolytic-like effect as suggested by the increased time spent in the center of the open field (p < 0.05). Our results further support the potential anxiolytic-like effect of pharmacological modulation of the endocannabinoid system.

• Keywords
• JWH-073, JWH-210, behavior, pharmacokinetics, synthetic cannabinoids, Δ9-THC,
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

RATIONALE: Self-report studies indicate that cannabis could increase sexual desire in some users. We hypothesized that intoxication increases activation of brain areas responsive to visual erotica, which could be useful in the treatment of hypoactive sexual desire disorder, a condition marked by a lack of sexual desire. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to assess the aphrodisiacal properties of cannabis. METHODS: We conducted an open-randomized study with 21 heterosexual casual cannabis users. A 3T MRI was used to measure brain activation in response to erotic pictures. Blood samples were collected to determine the serum levels of cannabinoids, cortisol and prolactin. Participants were grouped according to whether they had ever experienced any aphrodisiacal effects during intoxication (Group A) or not (Group non-A). RESULTS: Intoxication was found to significantly increase activation in the right nucleus accumbens in the Group A while significantly decreasing activation in the Group non-A. There was also a significant interaction between the group and intoxication, with elevated prolactin in the Group non-A during intoxication. No intoxication-related differences in subjective picture evaluations were found. CONCLUSION: Cannabis intoxication increases activation of the right nucleus accumbens to erotic stimuli. This effect is limited to users whose prolactin is not elevated in response to intoxication. This effect may be useful in the treatment of low sexual desire.

• Keywords
• Cannabis, Cortisol, Dopamine, Hypoactive sexual desire, Hypothalamus, Nucleus accumbens, Prolactin, fMRI,
• MeSH
• Cannabis metabolism   toxicity   MeSH
• Erotica MeSH
• Drug Combinations MeSH
• Hydrocortisone blood   MeSH
• Hypnotics and Sedatives MeSH
• Cannabidiol blood   chemistry   MeSH
• Libido ethics   physiology   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging MeSH
• Brain physiology   MeSH
• Nucleus Accumbens MeSH
• Pilot Projects MeSH
• Prolactin blood   MeSH
• Dronabinol blood   chemistry   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Drug Combinations MeSH
• Hydrocortisone MeSH
• Hypnotics and Sedatives MeSH
• Cannabidiol MeSH
• nabiximols MeSH Browser
• Prolactin MeSH
• Dronabinol MeSH