CP 55,940 is a synthetic cannabinoid which mimics the effects of naturally occurring

THC Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the principal psychoactive constituent of cannabis and one of at least 113 total cannabinoids identified on the plant. Although the chemical formula for THC (C21H30O2) describes multiple isomers, the term ''THC' ...

(one of the psychoactive compounds found in

cannabis ''Cannabis'' () is a genus of flowering plants in the family Cannabaceae. The number of species within the genus is disputed. Three species may be recognized: '' Cannabis sativa'', '' C. indica'', and '' C. ruderalis''. Alternative ...

). CP 55,940 was created by

Pfizer Pfizer Inc. ( ) is an American multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology corporation headquartered on 42nd Street in Manhattan, New York City. The company was established in 1849 in New York by two German entrepreneurs, Charles Pfizer ...

in 1974 but was never marketed. It is currently used to study the

endocannabinoid system The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a biological system composed of endocannabinoids, which are endogenous lipid-based retrograde neurotransmitters that bind to cannabinoid receptors (CBRs), and cannabinoid receptor proteins that are expressed ...

. A study found that CP 55,940 can upregulate 5-HT_2A receptors in mice. 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trade names Acomplia, Zimulti) is an anorectic antiobesity drug that was first approved in Europe in 2006 but was withdrawn worldwide in 2008 due to serious psychiatric side effects; it was never approved in t ...

(SR141716A). CP 55,940 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 id ...

, the putative "CB₃" receptor. 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. Unlike ...

. 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.

References

{{Cannabinoidergics Primary alcohols Cyclohexanols Cannabinoids Designer drugs Pfizer brands Phenols CB1 receptor agonists CB2 receptor agonists

See also

References