Experimental studies in rodents
Until recently, we have been performing animal studies on the role of the endogenous cannabinoid system and the cerebral energy metabolism as well as their interaction in models for aspects of psychiatric conditions in close collaboration with the Max-Planck-Institute for neurological research, Cologne and subsequently the Institute of Radiochemistry and Experimental Molecular Imaging, University of Cologne.
In our translational research approach, disorders of social behavior, cognition and motion of rats were experimentally induced in various ways. It was then possible to register relevant changes in behavior as well as their effect on the endocannabinoid system and the cerebral energy metabolism. We were using various invasive and non-invasive examination techniques. Examples are the animal PET or the examination of the concentration of endocannabinoids and related fatty acids in body fluids of the rats. Furthermore influences of established and recent pharmacotherapeutic interventions can be examined in more detail.
Although this work was very successful, we have put the area of animal studies on hold in our group and are currently following similar directions in collaboration with various researchers.
Publications:
Y. Bouter, M. M. Brzozka, R. Rygula, F. Pahlisch, F. M. Leweke, U. Havemann-Reinecke, C. Rohleder: Chronic Psychosocial Stress Causes Increased Anxiety-Like Behavior and Alters Endocannabinoid Levels in the Brain of C57Bl/6J Mice. Cannabis Cannabinoid Res (2020) 5:51-61
C. Rohleder, F. Pahlisch, R. Graf, H. Endepols, F. M. Leweke: Different pharmaceutical preparations of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol differentially affect its behavioural effects in rats. Addict Biol (2020) 25:e12745
C. Rohleder, D. Wiedermann, B. Neumaier, A. Drzezga, L. Timmermann, R. Graf, F. M. Leweke, Heike Endepols: The functional networks of prepulse inhibition: Neuronal connectivity analysis based on FDG-PET in awake and unrestrained rats. Front Behav Neurosci (2016) 10:148.
C. Rohleder, F. Jung, H. Mertgens, D. Wiedermann, M. Sue, B. Neumaier, R. Graf, F. M. Leweke, H. Endepols: Functional metabolic PET-imaging of auditory prepulse inhibition in awake rats. Front Behav Neurosci (2014) 8:178.
F. M. Leweke, M. Schneider: Chronic pubertal cannabinoid treatment as a behavioural model for aspects of schizophrenia: effects of the atypical antipsychotic quetiapine. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol (2011) 14: 43-51.
M. Klugmann, V. Klippenstein, F. M. Leweke, R. Spanagel, M. Schneider: Cannabinoid exposure in pubertal rats increases spontaneous ethanol consumption and NMDA receptor associated protein levels. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol (2011) 14: 505-517.
M. Schneider, E. Schömig, F. M. Leweke: Acute and chronic cannabinoid treatment differentially affects recognition memory and social behavior in pubertal and adult rats. Addict Biol (2008) 13: 345-357.
M. Schneider, E. Drews, M. Koch, E. Schömig, F. M. Leweke: Behavioral effects in adult rats of chronic treatment with the cannabinoid receptor agonist win 55,212-2 during different phases of development. Behav Pharmacol (2005) 16: S57-58.