The endogenous cannabinoid system (ECS) plays an important role in motivation, stress and drug abuse. Pharmacologically, the ECS can be stimulated by agonists of CB1 receptors or by inhibiting metabolic degradation of endogenous cannabinoids and consequently increasing their brain levels. Here, we investigated whether chronic administration during a period of withdrawal of the FAAH inhibitor URB597, which increases anandamide levels, would decrease the risks of relapse to cocaine seeking. Rats were allowed to self-administer cocaine and then they underwent forced withdrawal for 28 days during which they were treated with URB597 or vehicle. One day after the last injection, we investigated cocaine seeking in one 6h extinction session and relapse triggered by re-exposure to drug-associated cues or a pharmacological stressor. We found that administration of URB597 significantly decreases cocaine-seeking behaviour and cue- and stress-induced relapse suggesting that stimulation of the ECS could be helpful to prevent relapse to cocaine addiction.
© The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of CINP.