Targetting CB1 Cannabinoid Receptor for Neuroprotetion in Spinal Cord Injury

Abstract

Endogenous cannabinoids expression has been shown to increase following traumatic brain injury (TBI) and spinal cord injuries (SCI). Post‐TBI treatment with endocannabinoid has been reported to produce lesser disruption of blood brain barrier, and resulted in better clinical recovery in a mouse TBI model. However, to date no report is available regarding the use of synthetic CB1 cannabinoid receptor (CB1R) agonist in enhancing post‐SCI functional recovery. In the current study we tested the efficacy of CB1R agonists for neuroprotection following SCI in mice. We hypothesized that post‐SCI pharmacologic activation of CB1R will produce neuroprotective effects for axonal damage and will result in a better recovery. Our results show that post‐SCI treatment with CB1R agonists in mice decreased matrix metalloprotease 9 (MMP‐9) activity following spinal cord injury, and ameliorate the disruption of blood spinal cord barrier (BSCB). We have also shown that post‐SCI treatment with CB1R agonists improve both functional and histological outcome. Together these results raise the possibility that CB1R can be used as therapeutic target for spinal cord injury.