Behavioral Methods in Cannabinoid Research-

Authors
E. Fride, A. Perchuk, F. S. Hall, G. R. Uhl, E. S. Onaivi.

Lab
College of Judea and Samaria, Department of Behavioral Sciences and Department of Molecular Biology, Ariel, Israel ; William Paterson University, Department of Biology, Wayne, USA ; National Institute on Drug Abuse-National Institutes of Health, Molecular

Journal
Methods in Molecular Medicine

Abstract
In the absence of any specific behavioral asseay for cannabinoids or endocannabinoids, a cannabinoid-induced profile in a series of four in vivo assays in mice is most commonly used to access a specific cannabinoid activity at the bahvioral level. Thus, when a given compound produces motor depression in an open field, catalepsy on an elevated ring, analgesia on a hot plate, as well as hypothermia, cannabinoid CB1 receptor activation is assumed, although exceptions are possible. The full cannabinoid profile, however, includes for example ataxia in dogs and discrimination learnings in rats. Inview of the addictive / reward potential of cannabis and the cannabinoids and the multiple roles of the endocannabinoid physiological control system (EPCS) in behavioral functions, including memory, emotionality, and feeding, a number of behavioral techniques have been used to assess the effects of cannabinoids in these functions. In this chapter we will describe the tetrad of cannabinoid-induced effects as well as a series of behavioral assays used in the behavioral pharmacology of marijuana-cannabinoid research. Since the EPCS plays an important role in the development will also be discussed. The techniques include the tetrad, drug duscrimination, self-stimulation and self-administration, conditioned place preference / aversion, the plus-maze, chronic mild stress -CMS), ultrasonic vocalizations, cognitive behaviors, and developmental assessment in mouse (and rat) pups.