Tag Archives: cannabinoid

The anxiolytic-like effects of cannabidiol injected into the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis are mediated by 5-HT1A receptors.

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“Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-psychotomimetic compound from Cannabis sativa that induces anxiolytic-like effects in rodents and humans after systemic administration. Previous results from our group showed that CBD injection into the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) attenuates conditioned aversive responses. The aim of this study was to further investigate the role of this region on the anxiolytic effects of the CBD. Moreover, considering that CBD can activate 5-HT1A receptors, we also verified a possible involvement of these receptors in those effects.

CONCLUSIONS:

These results give further support to the proposal that BNST is involved in the anxiolytic-like effects of CBD observed after systemic administration, probably by facilitating local 5-HT1A receptor-mediated neurotransmission.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20945065

5-HT1A receptors are involved in the cannabidiol-induced attenuation of behavioural and cardiovascular responses to acute restraint stress in rats.

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“Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-psychotomimetic compound from Cannabis sativa which induces anxiolytic- and antipsychotic-like effects in rodents. These effects could be mediated by facilitation of the endocannabinoid system or by the activation of 5-HT(1A) receptors. As either of these mechanisms could promote adaptation to inescapable stress, the aim of the present work was to test the hypothesis that CBD would attenuate the autonomic and behavioural consequences of restraint stress (RS). We also investigated if the responses to CBD depended on activation of 5-HT(1A) receptors.

Cannabidiol (CBD)… cannabinoid generally found in relatively high concentrations in cannabis, exhibits a somewhat different pharmacology compared with THC. CBD attenuates the psychotomimetic and anxiogenic effects of THC in humans.

 Moreover, systemic administration of CBD induced antipsychotic and anxiolytic-like effects…

CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS:

The results suggest that CBD can attenuate acute autonomic responses to stress and its delayed emotional consequences by facilitating 5-HT(1A) receptor-mediated neurotransmission.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2697769/

 

Involvement of 5HT1A receptors in the anxiolytic-like effects of cannabidiol injected into the dorsolateral periaqueductal gray of rats.

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“Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-psychotomimetic constituent of Cannabis sativa plant that induces anxiolytic effects… In addition, since CBD has been shown to inhibit anandamide metabolism, CB1 receptors could also be involved in the effects of this cannabinoid…

CBD injected into the dorsolateral periaqueductal gray (dlPAG) produced anxiolytic-like effects… The anxiolytic effect of CBD was confirmed in the  Vogel conflict test (VCT)…

CONCLUSION:

These results suggest the CBD interacts with 5HT1A receptors to produce anxiolytic effects in the dlPAG.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18446323

Cannabidiol blocks long-lasting behavioral consequences of predator threat stress: possible involvement of 5HT1A receptors.

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“Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an incapacitating syndrome that follows a traumatic experience. Predator exposure promotes long-lasting anxiogenic effect in rodents, an effect related to symptoms found in PTSD patients. Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-psychotomimetic component of Cannabis sativa with anxiolytic effects. The present study investigated the anti-anxiety actions of CBD administration in a model of PTSD…

 Repeated administration of CBD prevented long-lasting anxiogenic effects promoted by a single predator exposure…

 In conclusion, predator exposure promotes long-lasting up-regulation of 5HT1A receptor gene expression in the hippocampus and frontal cortex. Repeated CBD administration prevents the long-lasting anxiogenic effects observed after predator exposure probably by facilitating 5HT1A receptors neurotransmission.

Our results suggest that CBD has beneficial potential for PTSD treatment and that 5HT1A receptors could be a therapeutic target in this disorder.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22979992

Differential role of anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol in memory and anxiety-like responses.

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“Cannabinoid agonists are potential therapeutic agents because of their antinociceptive and anxiolytic-like effects…

These results dissociate the role of anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol in memory consolidation and anxiety and reveal the interest of cannabinoid receptor 2 as a novel target for the treatment of anxiety-related disorders.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21684528

Nutritional n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids deficiency alters cannabinoid receptor signaling pathway in the brain and associated anxiety-like behavior in mice.

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“N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) cannot be synthesized de novo in mammals and need to be provided by dietary means. In the brain, the main n-3 PUFA is docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which is a key component of neuronal membranes. A low dietary level of DHA has been associated with increased risk of developing neuropsychiatric diseases; however, the mechanisms involved remain to be determined.

In this study, we found that long-term exposure to an n-3 deficient diet decreases the level of DHA in the brain and impairs the cannabinoid receptor signaling pathway in mood-controlling structures.

In n-3 deficient mice, the effect of the cannabinoid agonist WIN55,212-2 in an anxiety-like behavior test was abolished. In addition, the cannabinoid receptor signaling pathways were altered in the prefrontal cortex and the hypothalamus.

Consequently, our data suggest that behavioral changes linked to an n-3 dietary deficiency are due to an alteration in the endocannabinoid system in specific brain areas.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22707188

Anxiolytic-like effect of cannabidiol in the rat Vogel conflict test.

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“Cannabidiol (CBD) is a major constituent of the Cannabis sativa plant. It inhibits the anxiogenic activity of high doses of Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol and induces anxiolytic-like effects. However, the mechanisms underlying the actions of CBD are unknown. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to test the effects of CBD in the Vogel test, a widely used animal model of anxiety. 

 In conclusion, CBD induced an anticonflict effect not mediated by benzodiazepine receptors or by non-specific drug interference on nociceptive threshold or water consumption.

These results reinforce the hypothesis that this cannabinoid has anxiolytic properties.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16876926

Role in Anxiety Behavior of the Endocannabinoid System in the Prefrontal Cortex

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“Increasing evidence that low doses of cannabinoid agonists reduce anxiety-like behaviors in mice and rats is being reported, thus suggesting an anxiolytic role for the endogenous cannabinoid signaling. In line with this hypothesis, pharmacological agents that enhance the endogenous cannabinoid signaling exert anxiolytic-like actions…

  These findings support an anxiolytic role for physiological increases in AEA in the PFC, whereas more marked increases or decreases of this endocannabinoid might lead to an anxiogenic response due to TRPV1 stimulation or the lack of CB1 activation, respectively.”

http://cercor.oxfordjournals.org/content/18/6/1292.long

Expression pattern of the cannabinoid receptor genes in the frontal cortex of mood disorder patients and mice selectively bred for high and low fear.

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“Although the endocannabinoid system (ECS) has been implicated in brain development and various psychiatric disorders, precise mechanisms of the ECS on mood and anxiety disorders remain unclear. Here, we have investigated developmental and disease-related expression pattern of the cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) and the cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2) genes in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (PFC) of humans. Using mice selectively bred for high and low fear, we further investigated potential association between fear memory and the cannabinoid receptor expression in the brain…

 These results suggest that the CB1 in the PFC may play a significant role in regulating mood and anxiety symptoms. Our study demonstrates the advantage of utilizing data from postmortem brain tissue and a mouse model of fear to enhance our understanding of the role of the cannabinoid receptors in mood and anxiety disorders.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22534181

Cannabidiol: an overview of some chemical and pharmacological aspects. Part I: chemical aspects.

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“Over the last few years considerable attention has focused on cannabidiol (CBD), a major non-psychotropic constituent of Cannabis. In Part I of this review we present a condensed survey of the chemistry of CBD; in Part II, to be published later, we shall discuss the anti-convulsive, anti-anxiety, anti-psychotic, anti-nausea and anti-rheumatoid arthritic properties of CBD. CBD does not bind to the known cannabinoid receptors and its mechanism of action is yet unknown. In Part II we shall also present evidence that it is conceivable that, in part at least, its effects are due to its recently discovered inhibition of anandamide uptake and hydrolysis and to its anti-oxidative effect.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12505688

http://www.scribd.com/doc/52920296/Cannabidiol-an-Overview-of-Some-Chemical-and-Pharmacological-Aspects-Part-I-Chemical-Aspects