Chronic (-)-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol treatment induces sensitization to the psychomotor effects of amphetamine in rats

Clinical and basic research studies have linked cannabinoid consumption to the onset of psychosis, specially schizophrenia. In the present study we have evaluated the effects of the natural psychoactive constituent of Cannabis (-)-Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol on the acute actions of the psychostimulant, D-amphetamine, on behaviour displayed by male rats on a hole-board, a proposed animal model of amphetamine-induced psychosis. Cannabinoid-amphetamine interactions were studied (1) 30 min after acute injection of (-)-Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (0.1 or 6.4 mg/kg, i.p.); (2) 30 min after the last injection of 14-daily treatment with(-)-Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (0.1 or 6.4 mg/kg) and 3) 24 h after the last injection of 14-daily treatment with (-)-Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (6.4 mg/kg). Acute cannabinoid exposure antagonized the amphetamine-induced dose-dependent increase in locomotion, exploration and the decrease in inactivity. Chronic treatment with (-)-Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol resulted in tolerance to this antagonistic effect on locomotion and inactivity but not on exploration, and potentiated amphetamine-induced stereotypies. Lastly, 24 h of withdrawal after 14 days of cannabinoid treatment resulted in sensitization to the effects of D-amphetamine on locomotion, exploration and stereotypies. Since (-)-Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol is a cannabinoid CB1 receptor agonist, densely present in limbic and basal ganglia circuits, and since amphetamine enhances monoaminergic inputs (i.e., dopamine, serotonin) in these brain areas, the present data support the hypothesis of a role for the cannabinoid CB1 receptor as a regulatory mechanism of monoaminergic neuron-mediated psychomotor activation. These findings may be relevant for the understanding of both cannabinoid-monoamines interactions and Cannabis-associated psychosis. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.