Genetic deletion of CB1 receptors improves non-associative learning

Behav Brain Res. 2005 Jul 1;162(1):161-4. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2005.02.018. Epub 2005 Mar 17.

Abstract

Habituation (a form of non-associative learning) was measured by assessing locomotion in novel activity monitors in CB1 receptor knockout mice and juxtaposed to habituation measured in muscarinic M2, M4, and double M2/M4 receptor knockout mice. M2 and M2/M4, but not M4, receptor knockout mice appeared to have an impaired ability to habituate, whereas CB1 receptor knockout mice showed enhanced habituation compared to wild-type animals. We conclude that CB1 receptor gene invalidation improves habituation tentatively through an increase in cholinergic neurotransmission.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Analysis of Variance
  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn
  • Behavior, Animal
  • Female
  • Gene Deletion*
  • Habituation, Psychophysiologic / physiology*
  • Locomotion / genetics
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1 / deficiency*
  • Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1 / genetics
  • Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1 / physiology
  • Receptors, Muscarinic / classification
  • Receptors, Muscarinic / deficiency
  • Receptors, Muscarinic / genetics
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1
  • Receptors, Muscarinic