The FAAH inhibitor URB-597 interferes with cisplatin- and nicotine-induced vomiting in the Suncus murinus (house musk shrew)

Physiol Behav. 2009 Apr 20;97(1):121-4. doi: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2009.02.014. Epub 2009 Feb 23.

Abstract

Considerable evidence implicates the endocannabinoid system as a neuromodulator of nausea and vomiting. The action of anandamide (AEA) can be prolonged by inhibiting its degradation, through the use of URB597 (URB), a Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase (FAAH) enzyme inhibitor. Here we present evidence that the FAAH inhibitor, URB, interferes with cisplatin- and nicotine-induced vomiting in the Suncus murinus. In Experiment 1, shrews were injected with URB (0.9 mg/kg) or vehicle 120 min prior to the behavioral testing. They received a second injection of AEA (5 mg/kg) or vehicle 15 min prior to being injected with cisplatin (20 mg/kg) or saline and the number of vomiting episodes were counted for 60 min. In Experiment 2, shrews were injected with vehicle or URB (0.9 mg/kg) 120 min prior to receiving an injection of nicotine (5 mg/kg) or saline and the number of vomiting episodes were counted for 15 min. Experiment 3 evaluated the potential of the CB(1) antagonist, SR141716, to reverse the effect of URB on nicotine-induced vomiting. URB attenuated vomiting produced by cisplatin and nicotine and the combination of URB+AEA suppressed vomiting produced by cisplatin. The effect of URB on nicotine-induced vomiting was reversed by SR141716. These data suggest that the EC system plays a tonic role in the regulation of toxin-induced vomiting.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amidohydrolases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Animals
  • Arachidonic Acids / administration & dosage
  • Arachidonic Acids / pharmacology
  • Benzamides / administration & dosage
  • Benzamides / pharmacology*
  • Carbamates / administration & dosage
  • Carbamates / pharmacology*
  • Cisplatin
  • Drug Interactions
  • Endocannabinoids
  • Female
  • Male
  • Nicotine
  • Piperidines / administration & dosage
  • Piperidines / pharmacology
  • Polyunsaturated Alkamides / administration & dosage
  • Polyunsaturated Alkamides / pharmacology
  • Pyrazoles / administration & dosage
  • Pyrazoles / pharmacology
  • Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1 / agonists
  • Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Rimonabant
  • Shrews
  • Vomiting / chemically induced
  • Vomiting / prevention & control*

Substances

  • Arachidonic Acids
  • Benzamides
  • Carbamates
  • Endocannabinoids
  • Piperidines
  • Polyunsaturated Alkamides
  • Pyrazoles
  • Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1
  • cyclohexyl carbamic acid 3'-carbamoylbiphenyl-3-yl ester
  • Nicotine
  • Amidohydrolases
  • fatty-acid amide hydrolase
  • Cisplatin
  • Rimonabant
  • anandamide