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The cannabinoid CB2 receptor: improvement of sleep or memory in rotenone model of Parkinson's disease

Targa, ADS; dos Santos-Lima, GZ; Rodrigues, LS; Cavalcante, SF; Fontenele-Araújo, J; Torterolo, P; Fagotti, J; ... Lima, MMS; + view all (2025) The cannabinoid CB2 receptor: improvement of sleep or memory in rotenone model of Parkinson's disease. European Journal of Pharmacology , 1000 , Article 177745. 10.1016/j.ejphar.2025.177745.

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Abstract

The impact of cannabinoid CB2 receptor modulation on the non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease remains unknown. We investigated the role of nigrostriatal CB2 receptors modulation in reversing alterations in sleep macrostructure, inter-hemispheric synchronization dynamics, and memory consolidation in the rotenone model of Parkinson's disease. Male Wistar rats (n = 65) underwent stereotaxic surgery for the administration of either rotenone (12 μg/μl) or dimethyl sulfoxide (vehicle, 10 % v/v) into the substantia nigra pars compacta. Seven days later, the rotenone-treated animals received intrastriatal injections of either dimethyl sulfoxide (vehicle, 10 % v/v), GW405833 (partial agonist of CB2 receptors, 10 μg/μl), or AM630 (antagonist/inverse agonist of CB2 receptors, 3 μg/μl). One group of animals underwent 6 h of sleep-wake recording, while another group performed object recognition and open field tests. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was conducted to determine striatal transcript levels of CB1 and CB2 receptors. Infusion of AM630 reversed the rotenone-induced alterations in sleep macrostructure and inter-hemispheric synchronization dynamics. This modulation led to increased sleep efficiency (p < 0.01), higher probability of shorter desynchronization events (p < 0.01), and reduced transition rate from synchronized to desynchronized states (p < 0.05). Conversely, GW405833, but not AM630, reversed the rotenone-induced impairment in object recognition memory (p < 0.01). No significant effects were observed on striatal cannabinoid receptors transcripts levels. These findings suggest that CB2 receptors modulation is associated with paradoxical outcomes in terms of non-motor signs of Parkinson's disease, indicating somewhat independent mechanisms underlying sleep and memory alterations in the rotenone model of the disease.

Type: Article
Title: The cannabinoid CB2 receptor: improvement of sleep or memory in rotenone model of Parkinson's disease
Location: Netherlands
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2025.177745
Publisher version: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejphar.2025.177745
Language: English
Additional information: This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions.
Keywords: Parkinson’s disease, cannabinoid receptors, sleep, synchronization dynamics, recognition memory, rats
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Life Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Life Sciences > Div of Biosciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Life Sciences > Div of Biosciences > Neuro, Physiology and Pharmacology
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10212084
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