Premium
Cannabidiol fails to reverse hypothermia or locomotor suppression induced by Δ 9 ‐tetrahydrocannabinol in S prague‐ D awley rats
Author(s) -
Taffe Michael A,
Creehan Kevin M,
Vandewater Sophia A
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
british journal of pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.432
H-Index - 211
eISSN - 1476-5381
pISSN - 0007-1188
DOI - 10.1111/bph.13024
Subject(s) - cannabidiol , rimonabant , antagonist , cannabinoid , tetrahydrocannabinol , pharmacology , hypothermia , cannabinoid receptor , cannabinoid receptor antagonist , delta 9 tetrahydrocannabinol , chemistry , cannabinol , cannabis , medicine , receptor , biochemistry , psychiatry
Background and Purpose Growing evidence shows cannabidiol ( CBD ) modulates some of the effects of Δ 9 ‐tetrahydrocannabinol ( THC ). CBD is a constituent of some strains of recreational cannabis but its content is highly variable. High CBD strains may have less memory‐impairing effects than low‐ CBD strains and CBD can reverse behavioural effects of THC in monkeys. CBD / THC interactions in rodents are more complicated as CBD can attenuate or exacerbate the effects of THC . This study was undertaken to determine if CBD could reverse hypothermia or hypolocomotor effects caused by THC in rats. Experimental Approaches Male S prague‐ D awley rats were prepared with radiotelemetry devices and then given doses of THC (10–30 mg·kg −1 , i.p.) with or without CBD . Experiments determined the effect of simultaneous or 30 min pretreatment with CBD in a 1:1 ratio with THC , as well as the effect of CBD in a 3:1 ratio. Additional experiments determined the effects of pretreatment with the cannabinoid CB 1 receptor antagonist SR 141716 (rimonabant). Key Results CBD did not attentuate THC ‐induced hypothermia or hypolocomotion but instead exaggerated these effects in some conditions. The antagonist SR 141716 blocked hypolocomotor effects of THC for the first hour after injection and the hypothermia for 6 h; thus validating the pharmacological model. Conclusions and Implications There is no evidence from this study that elevated CBD content in cannabis could provide protection from the physiological effects of THC , in rats.