Repeated exposure to JWH-018 induces adaptive changes in the mesolimbic and mesocortical dopamine pathways, glial cells alteration and behavioural correlates

Pintori, Nicholas;Castelli, Maria Paola;Miliano, Cristina;Simola, Nicola;Fadda, Paola;Fattore, Liana;Scherma, Maria;Ennas, Maria Grazia;Mostallino, Rafaela;Flore, Giovanna;De Felice, Marta;Sagheddu, Claudia;Pistis, Marco;Di Chiara, Gaetano;De Luca, Maria Antonietta

2021-01-01

---

Abstract

Spice/K2 herbal mixtures, containing synthetic cannabinoids such as JWH-018, have been marketed as marijuana surrogates since 2004. We demonstrated that JWH-018 has cannabinoid CB1 receptor-dependent reinforcing properties and acutely increases dopamine transmission selectively in the NAc shell. Here we tested the hypothesis that repeated administration of JWH-018 (i) modulates behaviour, (ii) affects dopamine transmission and its responsiveness to motivational stimuli, and (iii) is associated with a neuroinflammatory phenotype.