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Antidepressant‐like effects of cannabidiol in mice: possible involvement of 5‐HT 1A receptors
Author(s) -
Zanelati TV,
Biojone C,
Moreira FA,
Guimarães FS,
Joca SRL
Publication year - 2010
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/j.1476-5381.2009.00521.x
Subject(s) - behavioural despair test , imipramine , open field , pharmacology , cannabidiol , tail suspension test , 5 ht receptor , cannabinoid receptor , antidepressant , brain derived neurotrophic factor , hippocampus , receptor , antagonist , medicine , neurotrophic factors , serotonin , psychiatry , cannabis , alternative medicine , pathology
Background and purpose: Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non‐psychotomimetic compound from Cannabis sativa that induces anxiolytic‐ and antipsychotic‐like effects in animal models. Effects of CBD may be mediated by the activation of 5‐HT 1A receptors. As 5‐HT 1A receptor activation may induce antidepressant‐like effects, the aim of this work was to test the hypothesis that CBD would have antidepressant‐like activity in mice as assessed by the forced swimming test. We also investigated if these responses depended on the activation of 5‐HT 1A receptors and on hippocampal expression of brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Experimental approach: Male Swiss mice were given (i.p.) CBD (3, 10, 30, 100 mg·kg −1 ), imipramine (30 mg·kg −1 ) or vehicle and were submitted to the forced swimming test or to an open field arena, 30 min later. An additional group received WAY100635 (0.1 mg·kg −1 , i.p.), a 5‐HT 1A receptor antagonist, before CBD (30 mg·kg −1 ) and assessment by the forced swimming test. BDNF protein levels were measured in the hippocampus of another group of mice treated with CBD (30 mg·kg −1 ) and submitted to the forced swimming test. Key results: CBD (30 mg·kg −1 ) treatment reduced immobility time in the forced swimming test, as did the prototype antidepressant imipramine, without changing exploratory behaviour in the open field arena. WAY100635 pretreatment blocked CBD‐induced effect in the forced swimming test. CBD (30 mg·kg −1 ) treatment did not change hippocampal BDNF levels. Conclusion and implications: CBD induces antidepressant‐like effects comparable to those of imipramine. These effects of CBD were probably mediated by activation of 5‐HT 1A receptors.