No abstract

A number of side‐chain analogues of Δ8‐THC were tested in GTPγS binding assay in rat cerebellar membranes. O‐1125, a saturated side‐chain compound stimulated GTPγS binding with an Emax of 165.0%, and an EC50 of 17.4 nM. O‐1236, O‐1237 and O‐1238, three‐enyl derivatives containing a cis carbon‐carbon double bond in the side‐chain, stimulated GTPγS binding, acting as partial agonists with Emax values ranging from 51.3–87.5% and EC50 values between 4.4 and 29.7 nM. The stimulatory effects of O‐1125, O‐1236, O‐1237 and O‐1238 on GTPγS binding were antagonized by the CB1 receptor antagonist SR 141716A. The KB values obtained ranged from 0.11–0.21 mM, suggesting an action at CB1 receptors. Five‐ynyl derivatives (O‐584, O‐806, O‐823, O‐1176 and O‐1184), each containing a carbon‐carbon triple bond in the side‐chain, did not stimulate GTPγS binding and were tested as potential cannabinoid receptor antagonists. Each ‐ynyl compound antagonized the stimulatory effects of four cannabinoid receptor agonists on GTPγS binding. The KB values obtained, all found to be in the nanomolar range, did not differ between agonists or from cerebellar binding affinity. In conclusion, alterations of the side‐chain of the classical cannabinoid structure may exert a large influence on affinity and efficacy at the CB1 receptor. Furthermore, this study confirms the ability of the GTPγS binding assay to assess discrete differences in ligand efficacies which potentially may not be observed using alternative functional assays, thus providing a unique tool for the assessment of the molecular mechanisms underlying ligand efficacies. British Journal of Pharmacology (1999) 126, 1575–1584; doi:

1 The e ect of allosteric regulators on the binding a nity of a number of cannabinoid receptor ligands of varying e cacy in the rat cerebellum was investigated. 2 Radioligand ([ 3 H]-SR141716A) competition curves were constructed in the presence or absence of sodium ions, magnesium ions and guanine nucleotides. 3 It was found that the presence of these allosteric regulators did not a ect the a nity of the two antagonists used but did cause a signi®cant decrease in the a nity of full and partial agonists. 4 This reduction in a nity ranged from a 3.67 fold rightward shift of the displacement curve of a mixed agonist/antagonist (3-(6-cyano-2-hexynyl)-delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol-O-823) to a 38 fold rightward shift for 3-(1,1-dimethyl-6-dimethylcarboxamide)-delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol (O-1125), a full agonist. 5 In summary, the results of this study suggest a simple method for the inference of functional data using the classical radioligand binding assay.