Pharmacology - Delta9-Tetrahydrocannabinol and Cannabinol Activate Capsaicin-Sensitive Sensory Nerve

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Description:
The Journal of Neuroscience, June 1, 2002, 22(11):4720–4727

Peter M. Zygmunt, David A. Andersson, and Edward D. Högestätt

Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) produces analgesia,
its effects on nociceptive primary afferents are unknown. These
neurons participate not only in pain signaling but also in the
local response to tissue injury. Here, we show that THC and
cannabinol induce a CB1/CB2 cannabinoid receptorindependent
release of calcitonin gene-related peptide from capsaicin-sensitive perivascular sensory nerves. Other psychotropic cannabinoids cannot mimic this action. The vanilloid
receptor antagonist ruthenium red abolishes the responses to
THC and cannabinol. However, the effect of THC on sensory
nerves is intact in vanilloid receptor subtype 1 gene knock-out
mice. The THC response depends on extracellular calcium but
does not involve known voltage-operated calcium channels,
glutamate receptors, or protein kinases A and C. These results
may indicate the presence of a novel cannabinoid receptor/ion
channel in the pain pathway.

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