Effects of acute and repeated dosing of the synthetic cannabinoid CP55,940 on intracranial self-stimulation in mice

•CP55,940 dose-dependently suppressed ICSS in C57BL6/J mice through a CB1 mechanism of action, but no evidence for facilitation at any dose.•Repeated dosing with CP55,940 resulted in partial tolerance to its rate-decreasing effects.•Mice treated repeatedly with CP55,940 show no evidence of spontaneous or precipitated withdrawal on ICSS.•Little support for abuse potential of CP55,940 is based on ICSS data.

BackgroundSynthetic cannabinoids have emerged as a significant public health concern. To increase the knowledge of how these molecules interact on brain reward processes, we investigated the effects of CP55,940, a high efficacy synthetic CB1 receptor agonist, in a frequency-rate intracranial self-stimulation (ICSS) procedure.MethodsThe impact of acute and repeated administration (seven days) of CP55,940 on operant responding for electrical brain stimulation of the medial forebrain bundle was investigated in C57BL/6J mice.ResultsCP55,940 attenuated ICSS in a dose-related fashion (ED50 (95% C.L.) = 0.15 (0.12–0.18) mg/kg). This effect was blocked by the CB1 receptor antagonist rimonabant. Tolerance developed quickly, though not completely, to the rate-decreasing effects of CP55,940 (0.3 mg/kg). Abrupt discontinuation of drug did not alter baseline responding for up to seven days. Moreover, rimonabant (10 mg/kg) challenge did not alter ICSS responding in mice treated repeatedly with CP55,940.ConclusionsThe finding that CP55,940 reduced ICSS in mice with no evidence of facilitation at any dose is consistent with synthetic cannabinoid effects on ICSS in rats. CP55,940-induced ICSS depression was mediated through a CB1 receptor mechanism. Additionally, tolerance and dependence following repeated CP55,940 administration were dissociable. Thus, CP55,940 does not produce reward-like effects in ICSS under these conditions.