DOI

https://doi.org/10.25772/2TAB-4C17

Author ORCID Identifier

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4424-5400

Defense Date

2020

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Pharmacology & Toxicology

First Advisor

Aron Lichtman

Second Advisor

Imad Damaj

Third Advisor

Joseph Porter

Abstract

CB1 receptor allosteric modulators are an area of growing interest for their potential novel therapeutic actions. In the present study, we examined LDK1258 in a series of pharmacological in vivo tests sensitive to CB1 receptor stimulation. In the tetrad assay, LDK1258 produced significant decreases in locomotor activity and body temperature measures but did not produce either antinociception as measured in the tail-withdrawal assay or catalepsy as assessed in the bar test. These same effects were observed in both CB1 (-/-) and (+/+) mice. Moreover, LDK1258 failed to shift the dose-response curves of two orthosteric CB1 receptor agonists in the triad assay. In the mouse drug discrimination assay, LDK1258 failed to substitute or shift the dose-response curve for either CP55,940 or anandamide, but dose-dependently suppressed response rates. In addition, LDK1258 reduced food consumption in both CB1 (-/-) and (+/+) mice. Unexpectedly, LDK1258 elicited a delayed antinociceptive effect in the CCI model, an effect not blocked by the CB1 receptor antagonist rimonabant. LCMS-MS analysis detected significant levels of the drug in blood and brain tissue 30 min post-administration and remained stable up to 4 hours in the brain. The results of the present study demonstrate that LDK1258 produces a variety of pharmacological effects, including antinociception, but these effects do not require CB1 receptor activation. These findings underscore the need for translational studies to examine newly developed CB1 receptor allosteric modulators that are characterized in in vitro assays to the whole animal, as has been done with other CB1 receptor allosteric modulators.

Rights

© The Author

Is Part Of

VCU University Archives

Is Part Of

VCU Theses and Dissertations

Date of Submission

5-19-2020

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