Effects of cannabidiol in males and females in two different rat models of depression

• Published in: Physiology & behavior 2019-03, Vol.201, p.59-63
• Main Authors: Shbiro, Liat, Hen-Shoval, Danielle, Hazut, Noa, Rapps, Kayla, Dar, Shira, Zalsman, Gil, Mechoulam, Raphael, Weller, Aron, Shoval, Gal
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal models of depression; Animals; Antidepressive Agents - therapeutic use; Cannabidiol; Cannabidiol - therapeutic use; Depression; Depressive Disorder - drug therapy; Depressive Disorder - psychology; Disease Models, Animal; Female; Flinders Sensitive Line; Food Preferences - psychology; Male; Motor Activity - drug effects; Rats; Rats, Inbred WKY; Saccharin - pharmacology; Swimming - psychology; Wistar- Kyoto rats
• ISSN: 0031-9384; 1873-507X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2018.12.019

The current study explores the therapeutic potential of Cannabidiol (CBD), a compound in the Cannabis plant, using both sexes of 2 “depressive-like” genetic models, Wistar Kyoto (WKY) and Flinders Sensitive Line (FSL) rats. Rats ingested CBD (30 mg/kg) orally. In the saccharin preference test, following a previous report of a pro-hedonic effect of CBD in male WKY, we now found similar results in female WKY. CBD also decreased immobility in the forced swim test in males (both strains) and in female WKY. These findings suggest a role for CBD in treating mental disorders with prominent symptoms of helplessness and anhedonia. •Oral CBD in different genetic rat models of depression: WKY and FSL rats.•30 mg/kg CBD produced pro-hedonic effects in male and female WKY.•30 mg/kg CBD produced antidepressant effects in male and female WKY and male FSL.•Support provided for a novel treatment for depression and associated disorders.