Background: Background of this work was the investigation of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) in the Fmr1 knock- out (KO) mouse. The Fmr1- KO mouse is a mouse model for fragile X syndrome (FXS). FXS is the leading monogenic cause for autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in humans. The Fmr1- KO mouse displays autistic behavior such as an impaired social interaction, repetitive behavior, cognitive deficits, increased anxiety and aggressiveness. Alterations of the ECS have been suggested to play a key role in the etiopathology of a variety of neuropsychiatric disorders. Until today, little has been described about the involvement of the ECS in ASD. Interrogation: 1. Evaluating the manifestation of typical cannabinoid- induced effects in the Fmr1- KO mouse 2. Investigating the influenceability of autistic symptoms with THC treatment in the Fmr1- KO mouse 3. Analyzing the signaling cascade of the stimulated and unstimulated ECS in different brain regions of the Fmr1- KO mouse Material and Methods: Experiments were carried out on adult (12±1 weeks old) male Fmr1- KO and Fmr1- wild- type (WT) mice from the C57BL/6J- (B6)- background. N= 15 mice received THC (10mg/kg bodyweight) and N= 16 received WIN55,212 (3mg/kg bodyweight). 30min after injection, the body temperature was measured and the distance animals moved in an open field during 15min was recorded (locomotion). Then, animals were placed with their forepaws onto a horizontally fixed bar and the time remaining in this position (catalepsy) was measured. Finally animals were placed on a preheated plate and the temperature at which a pain stimulus occurred was determined (testing analgesia). All 4 experiments are called tetrad experiment. Afterwards changes in body temperature, locomotion, catalepsy and analgesia of the animals was evaluated. To explore long-term effects of THC after the tetrad, N= 15 animals were tested in a social interaction test with a female contact mouse, 10 and 20 days after THC treatment. Therefore, the tested mouse and the contact mouse were placed together into a cage and the time mice spent in social interaction (nose, body and anogential sniffing, allogrooming and body contact) was manually quantified during 6min of recorded testing time. Another group of N= 19 received a premedication of rimonabant (Cannabinoid- receptor 1 (CB1) antagonist, 3mg/kg bodyweight) 30min prior to THC treatment. Rimonabant prevents THC from binding to CB1 and therefore allows the assessment of the involvement of CB1 in mediating social behavior. Furthermore the suggestibility of context-dependent fear conditioning with THC treatment has been tested on N= 13 mice. Animals were placed into a conditioning chamber that delivered 6 short electric shocks with a 30sec pause to their paws (conditioning phase). Immediately afterwards mice received THC or placebo. 24h later contextdependent fear was evaluated by quantification of the time mice spent freezing in the conditioning-chamber (fear) without receiving foot shocks. Intraneuronal signaling of the ECS was analyzed with N= 29 animals using western blots. Quantities of phosphorylated (“activated”) protein kinases (ERK, AKT and S6) from different brain homogenates (hippocampus, striatum, cortex and cerebellum) were therefore measured after THC or placebo injection (30 minutes prior to sacrificing). Results: Cannabinoids induced hypothermia, hypolocomotion, analgesia and catalepsy in WTmice. These effects were significantly less detectable in Fmr1- KO mice. Effects of both cannabinoids, THC and WIN55,212, were comparable with a slightly greater but not significant efficiency of THC. THC treated WT- mice exhibited further reduced social interaction 10 days after treatment, an effect that was partially prevented by premedication with rimonabant. THC increased social interaction in Fmr1- KO mice comparable to the level of untreated WT- mice. THC had no effect on behavior of WT- mice in context-dependent fear conditioning. Fmr1- KO mice showed significant less contextdependent fear conditioning compared to WT- mice. THC facilitated the recognition of an anxiety-correlated context in Fmr1- KO mice comparable to untreated WT- mice. In western blots significant changes in the THC- induced signaling cascade were detectable and depending on genotype, brain-region and analyzed protein-kinase. In the hippocampus there were no changes in untreated Fmr1- KO mice compared to WT- mice. THC had no effect on activation of protein-kinases in WT- and Fmr1- KO mice. In the striatum there were no changes in untreated Fmr1- KO mice compared to WTmice. THC significantly increased activity of ERK, AKT and S6 in WT-mice and not in Fmr1- KO mice. In the cortex of untreated Fmr1- KO mice AKT showed a significantly increased activity compared to WT- mice. THC significantly increased AKT activity in WT- mice without having an effect on KO- mice. In the cerebellum there were no changes in untreated Fmr1- KO mice compared to WT- mice. THC significantly increased ERK- activity in Fmr1- KO mice but had no effect on protein kinase activity in WT- mice. Conclusion: We observed physiological cannabinoid effects in WT- mice after treatment with THC and WIN55,212. These effects are significantly attenuated in Fmr1- KO mice. This may be interpreted as a desensitization of the ECS in the Fmr1- KO mouse. At the same time it was demonstrated that THC has the potential to improve context dependent memory consolidation and to increase social interaction in the Fmr1- KO mouse. In particular the influence of THC on impaired social interaction should be a target of further investigations to find possible therapeutic options for this typical symptom of Autism. Underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear and the analysis of THC stimulated intraneuronal signaling gave no clear indication of possible molecular alterations in the Fmr1- KO mouse.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / A method to obtain fourteen enones [EtO2CC(O)C(R2)=C(R1)OR, where R = H, Me; R1 = Pr, Ph, 4-MeOC6H4, 4-MeC6H4, 4-FC6H4, 4-ClC6H4, 4-BrC6H4, 4-NO2C6H4, Fur- 2-yl; R2 = H; R1,R2 = -(CH2)3-, -(CH2)4-, -(CH2)5-, -(CH2)6-, 3,4-dihydronaphthalen-2-yl] from acylation of acetals with ethyl oxalyl chloride is reported. The cyclocondensation reaction of these substrates with 2,4-dichlorophenyl hydrazine hydrochloride under ultrasound irradiation furnished a series of 1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-3-ethylcarboxylate-1Hpyrazoles in 71-92% yields. The pyrazole ester derivatives with R1,R2 = -(CH2)3-, - (CH2)4-, -(CH2)5-, and (CH2)6- suffered hidrolysis reaction in basic media supplied the carboxylic acids (94-97%) which were converted to the corresponding acid chlorides after reaction with thionyl chloride. The reaction of acid chlorides with primary amines (piperidin-1-ylamine, propylamine, 2-morpholino-4-yl-ethylamine, aniline, 4-metoxiphenylamina, 4-nitrophenylamina) led to respective 3-carboxyamide-1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-1H-pyrazoles in 85-97% yields. In addition to spectroscopic data the structure of the compounds was studied by X-ray diffraction experiments. Since, the 3-carboxyamide-1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-1H-pyrazoles are structurally similar to Rimonabant, a known antagonist of CB1 receptors, binding assays were performed to the cannabinoid receptor CB1. The most promising ligand and candidate to become prototype was the 1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-4,5,6,7,8,9-hexahydro-1Hcycloocta[c]pyrazole-3-carboxylicacid-piperidin-1-ylamide which shifted approximately 100% of [3H]Rimonabant in the tests. / Este trabalho descreve um método para obter catorze enonas [EtO2CC(O)C(R2)=C(R1)OR, onde R = H, Me; R1 = Pr, Ph, 4-MeOC6H4, 4-MeC6H4, 4-FC6H4, 4-ClC6H4, 4-BrC6H4, 4-NO2C6H4, Fur-2-il; R2 = H; R1,R2 = -(CH2)3-, -(CH2)4-, - (CH2)5-, -(CH2)6-, 3,4-diidronaftalen-2-il] a partir da acilação de acetais com cloreto de etil oxalila. A reação de ciclocondensação desses substratos com cloridrato de 2,4- diclorofenil hidrazina utilizando irradiação de ultrassom forneceu uma série de 1-(2,4-diclorofenil)-3-etilcarboxilato-1H-pirazóis em 71-92% de rendimento. Os pirazóis sintetizados (R1,R2 = -(CH2)3-, -(CH2)4-, -(CH2)5-, -(CH2)6-) sofreram hidrólise em meio básico conduzindo aos respectivos ácidos carboxílicos (94-97%) os quais foram convertidos aos cloretos de ácido correspondentes após reação com cloreto de tionila. A reação desses cloretos de ácido com aminas primárias (piperidin-1-ilamina, propilamina, 2-morfolin-4-il-etilamina, anilina, 4-metoxifenilamina, 4-nitrofenilamina) conduziram aos respectivos 3-carboxiamida-1-(2,4-diclorofenil)-1H-pirazóis em 85-97% de rendimento. Adicionalmente aos dados espectroscópicos, a estrutura dos compostos foi estudada por experimentos de difração raios-X. Uma vez que os 3-carboxiamida-1- (2,4-diclorofenil)-1H-pirazóis são estruturalmente análogos ao Rimonabanto, um conhecido antagonista dos receptores CB1, foram realizados ensaios de ligação específica desses compostos para o receptor canabinóide CB1. O ligante mais promissor, candidato a protótipo, foi o 3-carboxiamida-1-(2,4-diclorofenil)-N-(piperidin-1-il)-4,5,6,7,8,9-hexaidro-1H-ciclocta[c]pirazol o qual deslocou, aproximadamente, 100% do [3H]Rimonabanto nos ensaio realizados.

As of today, synthetic cannabinoids are one of the biggest groups of new psychoactive substances.These substances can be used as substitutes for the psychoactive drug cannabis, avoiding the legalrestrictions on cannabis. Furthermore, a variety of synthetic cannabinoids are synthesized with eithersignificant or very minor structural differences, making the detection of said novel drugs hard to keepup with and is therefore of great importance to have standards which help in the identification of theintake of the parent synthetic cannabinoid. In this project, several metabolites ofsynthetic cannabinoids with indole/indazole cores with differentside chains was synthesized. The general strategy used in this project was to N-alkylate the desiredcore followed by amide coupling with L-tert-leucine methyl ester or L-Valine methyl esterhydrochloride which resulted in 8 potential synthetic cannabinoid metabolites.

Les connections synaptiques entre les cellules nerveuses (appelées synapses) sont essentielles à l’établissement de l’architecture du système nerveux. La modification de ces synapses est un des mécanismes par lequel l’apprentissage et la mémoire fonctionnent. On sait depuis plusieurs années déjà que la consommation de cannabis exerce une profonde influence sur l’apprentissage et la mémoire, et que sa consommation chez la femme durant la grossesse ou l’allaitement peut causer des déficits cognitifs chez l’enfant qui perdureront à l’âge adulte. Pour le moment, on ne sait toujours pas si ces effets sont médiés par les récepteurs aux cannabinoïdes classiques (CB1 et CB2) ou par d’autres récepteurs tel le GPR55. Des études récentes du laboratoire du Pr. Bouchard ont démontré un rôle important du système endocannabinoïde dans le développement du système nerveux notamment par la présence du récepteur GPR55 et son implication dans la modulation du guidage et de la croissance des axones durant les périodes foetale et périnatale. Comme certaines molécules et mécanismes cellulaires impliqués dans ces processus peuvent aussi jouer un rôle dans la formation de synapses (synaptogenèse), l’objectif de la présente étude est de déterminer la contribution du GPR55 dans la formation de contacts synaptiques. À partir de cortex d’embryons de souris, nous avons cultivé puis traité des neurones corticaux soit avec un agoniste sélectif de GPR55 (O-1602) ou son antagoniste sélectif (ML-193), soit avec un phytocannabinoïde (cannabidiol) pendant 24 heures au 9e jour in vitro. En immunocytochimie, les neurones traités avec le ML-193 ont démontré une réduction significative du nombre de contacts synaptiques et une augmentation significative avec l’O-1602 et le cannabidiol. Ces changements anatomiques sont corrélés avec des modifications de l’expression des protéines synaptiques GluR1 et synaptophysine au niveau du cortex. En plus de fournir d’importantes informations sur le développement du système nerveux, les résultats de cette étude contribuent à l’amélioration de nos connaissances sur les anomalies du développement induites par la consommation périnatale de cannabis. / Functional connections between nerve cells (called synapses) are essential to establish the architecture of the nervous system. The modification of synapses is thought to be one of the mechanisms by which learning and memory occur. It has been known for decades that cannabis consumption has a profound influence on learning and memory, and that maternal marijuana smoking during perinatal period causes cognitive deficits that last in the adulthood of the offspring. For the moment, we do not know if these effects are mediated by the classic CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors or by other receptors such as GPR55. Recent studies by Pr. Bouchard have demonstrated an important role for the endocannabinoid system in the development of the nervous system, including the presence of GPR55 and its involvement in axon growth and target innervation during the fetal and early postnatal periods. As certain molecules and cellular mechanisms involved in these processes may also regulate synapse formation (synaptogenesis), the objective of the present study is to determine the contribution of GPR55 in the formation of new synaptic contacts. Primary cortical neurons isolated from embryonic mice were cultivated and then treated either with a selective agonist of GPR55 (O-1602) or his selective antagonist (ML-193), or with a phytocannabinoid (cannabidiol) for 24h at the ninth day in vitro (DIV9). In immunocytochemistry, neurons treated with ML-193 have shown a decrease in synaptic density, while the treatment with O-1602 or cannabidiol increased it. These anatomical changes were correlated with changes in the expression of synaptic proteins GluR1 and synaptophysin. Results from this study provide important insight on the development of the nervous system and contribute to improving our knowledge on developmental abnormalities induced by perinatal cannabis use.

This thesis describes in the form of a commentary on own original publications research on the problems of cannabinoids, ie. phytocannabinoids and some synthetic cannabinoids, their pharmacokinetics and effects. The work consists of four thematic areas: the pharmacokinetics of delta-9- tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) in rats, depending on the route of administration; THC concentration time profile in humans (after inhalation) and implications for transport safety; the pharmacokinetic profile of synthetic cannabinoids in rats; extraction and determination of phytocannabinoids in plant material. The first part of the thesis was to determine pharmacokinetic profiles of THC, CBD and combination thereof (1:1 weight ratio) in rats with respect to administration common in humans, i.e. inhalation, oral and subcutaneous administration. THC, its metabolites (11-hydroxy-tetrahydrocannabinol, 11-OH-THC; 11-nor-delta-9- carboxytetrahydrocannabinol, THCOOH) and CBD concentrations in serum and brains of animals were monitored at the 24 hours experimental interval during the study. Except for inhalation administration, co-administration of CBD inhibited THC metabolism (after both oral and subcutaneous), resulting in an increase in THC concentrations in both serum and brain of the rats relative to...

INTRODUCTION: The legal and illicit use of cannabinoid-containing products is accelerating worldwide and is accompanied by increasing abuse problems. Due to legal issues, the USA will be entering a period of rapidly expanding recreational use of cannabinoids without the benefit of needed basic or clinical research. Most clinical cannabinoid research is focused on adults. However, the pediatric population is particularly vulnerable since the central nervous system is still undergoing developmental changes and is potentially susceptible to cannabinoid-induced alterations. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: This review focuses on the systems medicine of cannabinoids with emphasis on the need for future studies to include pediatric populations and mother-infant dyads. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Systems medicine integrates omics-derived data with traditional clinical medicine with the long-term goal of optimizing individualized patient care and providing proactive medical advice. Omics refers to large-scale data sets primarily derived from genomics, epigenomics, proteomics, and metabolomics.

Cannabis sativa L. (hemp) develops plants with either male or female flowers, and growers of hemp greatly prefer female flowers which bear the glandular trichomes that contain cannabinoids. Feminized (all female) seeds are highly desired, which are produced by crossing a female plant with a masculinized female plant. Masculinization is achieved through the inhibition of ethylene and/or addition of gibberellins before flower initiation in female plants. The hemp industry uses silver thiosulfate (STS) to masculinize hemp, but spraying silver poses environmental concerns. This study compared STS to three other ethylene-inhibiting agents: aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG), cobalt nitrate (CBN), and 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP). Treatments of STS and CBN also included gibberellic acid as a synergist. Plants treated with STS exhibited superior masculinization and pollen dispersal compared to plants treated with AVG, CBN or 1-MCP. Only plants treated with STS or AVG produced pollen in sufficient quantities for collection. This pollen was assayed for germination potential initially and after storage for up to five weeks at 22.2, 7.2, or 1.1°C. Pollen from plants treated with AVG remained viable for four weeks at 1.1°C, whereas STS-treated plants produced pollen that was viable for three weeks at 1.1°C. Due to phytotoxicity problems with AVG, STS remains the best treatment to masculinize female hemp plants when breeding for feminized seeds. In a separate study, flower tissues of hemp had considerably higher total cannabinoid concentrations compared to leaf tissues but significantly lower ratios of cannabidivarin (CBDV) to cannabidiol (CBD). To reduce variability, at least 1 g samples of fresh leaf or flower tissue should be extracted with 10 mL of methanol. Rapid throughput testing of cannabinoids as part of a breeding program should use flower tissue, preferably at the time typical of harvest.

Studies have been conducted to highlight the anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties of cannabinoids and also their potentials for cartilage repair and regeneration. Various wound healing techniques can be used to investigate the mechanisms of chondrocyte repair in monolayers or three dimensional tissue constructs. The effect of different concentrations of the synthetic cannabinoids WIN55, 212-2 (WIN-2), URB602 and HU-308 with and without their antagonists on the wound healing of chondrocyte monolayers was investigated using a simple scratch assay model. The three cannabinoids were found to increase wound healing of chondrocyte monolayers, but at different rates. WIN55, 212-2 at a concentration of 1μM had the highest effect of increasing both migration and proliferation of chondrocytes cultured in a chondrogenic media, which increased the rate of wound closure. It was also found that treating the cells with 2μM of any of the cannabinoids lead to a decrease in cell proliferation and the rate of wound closure. These findings were further investigated, by studying the effect of WIN-2 on nitric oxide (NO) and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) expressed by wounded chondrocyte monolayers. Moreover, expression of collagen type-I, collagen type-II, fibronectin and S100 proteins were detected using immunofluorescence and verified quantitatively using ELISA based techniques, following treatment with 1μM and 2μM of WIN-2, for both 2D monolayers and 3D sheets. Treating chondrocytes with 1μM of WIN-2 significantly increased collagen type-II, fibronectin and S100, and significantly reduced collagen type-I compared to control groups in monolayers and chondrocyte cell sheets. On the other hand, both concentrations of WIN-2 significantly reduced the expression of the inflammation markers NO, and MMP-2, in a dose dependent manner. These findings highlight the potential use of the synthetic cannabinoid for improving the rate of wound closure as well as acting as an antiinflammatory agent, which could be used to enhance tissue engineering protocols aimed at cartilage repair. / Egyptian Government

La synthèse de molécules naturelles représente un défi majeur dans le domaine de la recherche axée sur la découverte de nouveaux composés thérapeutiques. Des nouvelles méthodologies de synthèse sont développées pour améliorer la facilité, la sécurité, le rendement et la rentabilité des processus de synthèse des molécules d'intérêt. Les travaux exposés dans cette thèse portent sur l'élaboration de synthèses énantiosélectives de polyphénols et de cannabinoïdes, mettant en lumière l'application de la chimie en flux continu pour la synthèse d'un principe actif pharmaceutique, le cannabidiol. Afin de produire des dérivés de cannabinoïdes, une synthèse énantiosélective basée sur une réaction de Diels-Alder organocatalysée a été développée. L'utilisation d'un composé carbonyle intermédiaire en association avec un groupement protecteur éthoxyéthyle permet de synthétiser avec des énantiosélectivités élevés des cannabinoïdes naturels, tels que le cannabidiol et le tétrahydrocannabinol, ainsi que des variantes avec des modifications du groupement isopropènyle. La synthèse du cannabidiol en chimie en flux continu a été élaborée à partir d'une approche convergente impliquant l'hexanal et le (+)-limonène. La synthèse du premier substrat, l'olivetol, à partir de l'hexanal, utilise notamment la technique de synthèse en ligne, ce qui permet de contourner les étapes de finition et de purification intermédiaire. Le second substrat, le (1S,4R)-p-mentha-2,8-dièn-1-ol, a été synthétisé en 4 étapes à partir du (+)-limonène. Le cannabidiol a été obtenu à travers une réaction de substitution électrophile aromatique avec une bonne régiosélectivité, réduisant ainsi la formation de sous-produits et assurant la production d'un produit final avec une très bonne pureté. / The synthesis of natural molecules is a daily challenge in the search for new compounds with medical applications. New methods are constantly being developed to improve the ease of synthesis, safety, yield, or cost of molecules of interest. The research presented in this thesis describes the development of enantioselective syntheses of polyphenols and cannabinoids, as well as the use of continuous flow chemistry for the synthesis of an active pharmaceutical ingredient, cannabidiol. To access cannabinoid derivatives, an enantioselective synthesis using an organocatalyzed Diels-Alder reaction was developed. The carbonyl intermediate, coupled with the use of an ethoxyethyl protecting group, allows access with high enantioselectivity to natural cannabinoids such as cannabidiol and tetrahydrocannabinol, as well as modifications of the isopropenyl group. The continuous flow synthesis of cannabidiol was developed using a convergent synthesis from hexanal and (+)-limonene. In particular, the synthesis of the first substrate, olivetol, from hexanal makes use of the online synthesis technique, which allows the bypassing of finishing and intermediate purification steps. The second substrate, (1S,4R)-p-mentha-2,8-dièn-1-ol, is synthesized in 4 steps from (+)-limonene. Cannabidiol is synthesized through a regioselective aromatic electrophilic substitution reaction, which limits the formation of by-products and yields a final product of high purity.

Cannabinoids (CBs) and particularly CB2 agonists have been shown to reduce pain andinflammation without eliciting any apparent psychotropic effect conversely to CB1agonist compounds. CBs candidates are usually lipophilic non drug-like compoundswith poor bioavailability. To serve the purpose of evaluating new synthetic CB2 agonistsdeveloped by our group, on in vivo neuropathic pain models, an enabling formulationstrategy has been set up and four Drug Delivery Systems (DDS) developed. Forparenteral administration, cyclodextrin (CD)-based inclusion complexes, liposomes andsurfactants/co-solvents micellar solution have been investigated whereas Self-Emulsifying DDS (SEDDS) was selected for oral administration. A pharmacologicalstudy conducted with lead compound MDA7, formulated in CD-based DDS resulted inthe higher antinociceptive activity. A comprehensive study of the inclusion mechanismof MDA7 in the CD supramolecular complexes prepared was carried out. MDA7pharmacokinetic profile was also generated formulated in micellar solution and SEDDS.Besides, cationic polymeric nanocapsules (NCs) have been designed to serve as aprotective DDS for oral administration of a dietary phytocannabinoid CB2 agonist.Studies were undertaken to characterize and evaluate the influence of differentparameters on NCs formation prepared by nanoprecipitation. The cationic NCsdeveloped have been explored for their property to yield proportion of counterioniccondensation in the presence of macrocycles bearing anionic groups such assulfobutylether-beta-cyclodextrin or to form electrostatic interactions/host-guestcomplexion with cucurbit[n]uril.