Effect of a synthetic cannabinoid JWH-018 on hemodynamics and behavior in rats

Synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) are a a new generation of synthetic psychoactive substances. It was aimed to investigate the effects of systemic acute use of synthetic cannabinoids JWH-018 in healthy rats on hemodynamics and behavior, and after 14 days of application. Groups were formed as follows after the approval of Manisa CBU Animal Experiments Local Ethics Committee is gained; Group I (acute control) ethanol, tween 80 and saline administered; Group II, 0.3 mg / kg JWH-18 (i.p.); Group III (chronic control group) received 14 days of dissolving (ip) and Group IV (chronic test group) received JWH-018 (ip) group for 14 days (total n = 36 rats). Blood pressure and heart rate measurement were performed non-invasively by tail blood pressure cuff 25 minutes after administration of the substance in all experimental groups. In all groups the Open Field Test (AAT) and Elevated Plus Maze Test (YALT) were applied. After cervical dislocation, liver, lung and kidney were dissected. Tissues were stained and examined under light microscope. Statistical analysis was performed using the Mann Whitney U method with the SPSS 15.0 software. Among the obtained data, statistically significant increase in weight gain were observed. There is no significant difference in other results; in the acute group; blood pressure, heart rate were relatively high, in the chronic group; the heart rate was relatively low. In the open field test, the JWH-018 caused decreased leukemotor activity in the acute group, whereas caused an increase in the chronic group. Evaluations of anxiety indicators showed that; while the time spent in the center in the acute and chronic group decreased, there was an increase in the time spent in the periphery. In the raised plus maze tests; the time spent in the open and closed cooldowns increased in both groups, but a decrease was detected in the time spent in the center. Histopathologic findings were observed in immunohistochemical staining for all three tissues. We are convinced that it will be possible to carry out more extensive studies to explain the underlying mechanisms of JWH-018 which is finding widespread use nowadays. Key words: JWH-018, synthetic cannabinoid, hemodynamics, behavior, rat, histopathology, oxidative stress, apoptosis