Arachidonyl-2′-chloroethylamide (ACEA), a synthetic agonist of cannabinoid receptor, increases CB1R gene expression and reduces dyskinesias in a rat model of Parkinson's disease

l-Dopa is the most effective drug used for Parkinson's disease (PD), but after long-term treatment, the vast majority of PD patients develop abnormal involuntary movements (AIMs) termed l-Dopa-induced dyskinesia (LID). Cannabinoid receptors in the basal ganglia can modulate motor functions, but their role in the treatment of LID is controversial. Therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate the motor behavior and mRNA expression of the cannabinoid receptor-1 (CB1R), encoded by the Cnr1 gene, in the striatum and globus pallidus of a 6-hydroxydopamine rat model of PD. The evaluated rats had 6-hydroxydopamine-induced injury, LID, and LID treated with arachidonyl-2′-chloroethylamide (ACEA), a cannabinoid receptor agonist. Contralateral turns and AIMs were recorded to assess motor behavior. Gene expression was quantified by reverse transcription coupled with quantitative polymerase chain reaction using TaqMan probes. Behavioral evaluations demonstrated that dyskinetic rats treated with ACEA had a significant reduction in AIMs compared to the dyskinetic group. The expression of CB1R mRNA was significantly decreased in the 6-hydroxydopamine-injured and dyskinetic rats, compared to intact rats. The striata of dyskinetic rats treated with ACEA exhibited highly significant increases in CB1R mRNA expression. Contrary to results in the striatum, a lower CB1R expression was observed in globus pallidus from dyskinetic ACEA-treated group. In summary, significant differences in mRNA expression of CB1R were found between the evaluated groups of rats, suggesting the occurrence of compensatory mechanisms that may result in the ACEA-mediated reduction of dyskinesias in a rat model of PD. •The striatum of dyskinetic rats treated with arachidonyl-2'-chloroethylamide (ACEA) shows an increase in CB1R mRNA expression.•High levels of CB1R expression in striatum correlate with less abnormal involuntary movements in ACEA-treated dyskinetic rats•The ACEA treatment does not recover the CB1R expression in globus pallidus in dyskinetic animals