antiaversive effects of cannabinoids is the periaqueductal gray involvedantiaversive大麻类中脑导水管周围灰质参与的影响.pdfVIP

Hindawi Publishing Corporation Neural Plasticity Volume 2009, Article ID 625469, 11 pages doi:10.1155/2009/625469 Review Article Antiaversive Effects of Cannabinoids: Is the Periaqueductal Gray Involved? F. A. Moreira, D. C. Aguiar, A. C. Campos, S. F. Lisboa, A. L. Terzian, ˜ L. B. Resstel, and F. S. Guimaraes Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine of Ribeirao Preto, University of Sao Paulo, Avenida Bandeirantes 3900, ˜ ˜ Ribeirao Preto, SP, Brazil ˜ ˜ Correspondence should be addressed to F. S. Guimaraes, fsguimar@fmrp.usp.br Received 14 May 2008; Revised 12 August 2008; Accepted 9 September 2008 Recommended by Robert Adamec Cannabinoids play an important role in activity-dependent changes in synaptic activity and can interfere in several brain functions, including responses to aversive stimuli. The regions responsible for their effects, however, are still unclear. Cannabinoid type 1 (CB1) receptors are widely distributed in the central nervous system and are present in the periaqueductal gray (PAG), a midbrain structure closely involved in responses related to aversive states. Accordingly, exposure to stressful stimuli increases endocannabinoid (eCB) levels in the PAG, and local administration of CB1 agonists or drugs that facilitate eCB-mediated neurotransmission produces antinociceptive and antiaversive effects. To investigate if these drugs would also interfere in animal models that are sensitive to anxiolytic drugs, we verified the responses to intra-PAG inj