A novel probe for the cannabinoid receptor

J Med Chem. 1992 May 29;35(11):2065-9. doi: 10.1021/jm00089a018.

Abstract

The 1,1-dimethylheptyl (DMH) homologue of 7-hydroxy-delta 6-tetrahydrocannabinol (3) is the most potent cannabimimetic substance reported so far. Hydrogenation of 3 leads to a mixture of the epimers of 5'-(1,1-dimethylheptyl)-7-hydroxyhexahydrocannabinol or to either the equatorial (7) or to the axial epimer (8), depending on the catalysts and conditions used. Compound 7 discriminates for delta 1-THC (2) in pigeons (ED50 = 0.002 mg/kg, after 4.5 h), at the potency level of 3, and binds to the cannabinoid receptor with a KD of 45 pM, considerably lower than the Ki of 180 pM measured for compound 3 and the Ki of 2.0 nM measured for CP-55940 (1), a widely employed ligand. Tritiated 7 was used as a novel probe for the cannabinoid receptor.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain / metabolism
  • Columbidae
  • Discrimination Learning
  • Discrimination, Psychological
  • Dronabinol / analogs & derivatives*
  • Dronabinol / chemical synthesis
  • Dronabinol / chemistry
  • Dronabinol / metabolism
  • Male
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Molecular Structure
  • Rats
  • Rats, Inbred Strains
  • Receptors, Cannabinoid
  • Receptors, Drug / metabolism*
  • Synaptic Membranes / metabolism
  • Tritium

Substances

  • Receptors, Cannabinoid
  • Receptors, Drug
  • Tritium
  • Dronabinol
  • HU 211