Species differences in cannabinoid receptor 2 and receptor responses to cocaine self-administration in mice and rats

• Published in: Neuropsychopharmacology (New York, N.Y.) Vol. 40; no. 4; pp. 1037 - 1051
• Main Authors: Zhang, Hai-Ying, Bi, Guo-Hua, Li, Xia, Li, Jie, Qu, Hong, Zhang, Shi-Jian, Li, Chuan-Yun, Onaivi, Emmanuel S, Gardner, Eliot L, Xi, Zheng-Xiong, Liu, Qing-Rong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Nature Publishing Group 01.03.2015
• Subjects: Addictive behaviors; Administration, Oral; Animals; Behavior; Brain - metabolism; Brain research; Cannabinoids - pharmacology; Cocaine; Cocaine - administration & dosage; Conditioning, Operant; Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors - administration & dosage; Drug abuse; Ligands; Localization; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Knockout; Models, Molecular; Neurosciences; Nicotine; Original; Rats; Rats, Long-Evans; Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2 - antagonists & inhibitors; Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2 - genetics; Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2 - metabolism; Reinforcement Schedule; Reinforcement schedules; Self Administration; Species Specificity; Sucrose - administration & dosage; Sweetening Agents - administration & dosage; Transgenic animals; Beijing China; United States > US; China; Baltimore Maryland

The discovery of functional cannabinoid receptors 2 (CB2Rs) in brain suggests a potential new therapeutic target for neurological and psychiatric disorders. However, recent findings in experimental animals appear controversial. Here we report that there are significant species differences in CB2R mR...