CP 55,940 is a

synthetic cannabinoid Synthetic cannabinoids, or neocannabinoids, are a class of designer drug molecules that Binding affinity, bind to the same receptors to which cannabinoids (Tetrahydrocannabinol, THC, Cannabidiol, CBD and many others) in cannabis plants attach. Th ...

which mimics the effects of naturally occurring THC (one of the psychoactive compounds found in

cannabis ''Cannabis'' () is a genus of flowering plants in the family Cannabaceae that is widely accepted as being indigenous to and originating from the continent of Asia. However, the number of species is disputed, with as many as three species be ...

). CP 55,940 was created by

Pfizer Pfizer Inc. ( ) is an American Multinational corporation, multinational Pharmaceutical industry, pharmaceutical and biotechnology corporation headquartered at The Spiral (New York City), The Spiral in Manhattan, New York City. Founded in 184 ...

in 1974 but was never marketed. It is currently used as a research tool to study the

endocannabinoid system The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a biological system composed of endocannabinoids, which are neurotransmitters that bind to cannabinoid receptors, and cannabinoid receptor proteins that are expressed throughout the central nervous system ( ...

Pharmacology

CP 55,940 is 45 times more potent than Δ⁹-THC, and fully antagonized by

rimonabant Rimonabant (also known as SR141716; trade names Acomplia, Zimulti) is an anorectic antiobesity drug approved in Europe in 2006 but was withdrawn worldwide in 2008 due to serious psychiatric side effects; it was never approved in the United State ...

(SR141716A). It is considered a full agonist at both CB₁ and CB₂ receptors and has K_i values of 0.58 nM and 0.68 nM respectively, but is an antagonist at

GPR55 G protein-coupled receptor 55 also known as GPR55 is a G protein-coupled receptor that in humans is encoded by the ''GPR55'' gene. GPR55, along with GPR119 and GPR18, have been implicated as novel cannabinoid receptors. History GPR55 was ide ...

, the putative "CB₃" receptor. CP 55,940 binding has been detected in the cytosol of rat brain cerebral cortex. It can upregulate 5-HT_2A receptors in mice.

In vitro studies

CP 55,940 induced cell death in NG 108-15 Mouse neuroblastoma x Rat glioma hybrid brain cancer (genetically engineered mouse x rat brain cancer) cells.

In vivo studies

CP 55,940 showed protective effects on rat brain mitochondria upon paraquat exposure. It also showed neuroprotective effects by reducing intracellular calcium release and reducing hippocampal cell death in cultured neurons subjected to high levels of

NMDA ''N''-methyl--aspartic acid, or ''N''-methyl--aspartate (NMDA), is an amino acid derivative that acts as a specific agonist at the NMDA receptor mimicking the action of glutamate, the neurotransmitter which normally acts at that receptor. Unl ...

References

{{Cannabinoidergics Primary alcohols Cyclohexanols Cannabinoids Designer drugs Drugs developed by Pfizer Phenols CB1 receptor agonists CB2 receptor agonists

Pharmacology

In vitro studies

In vivo studies

See also

References