Antidepressant activity evaluation of the association between the phytocannabinoids delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol in mice

• Grant number: 11/03374-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Effective date (Start): August 01, 2011
• Effective date (End): August 31, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Pharmacology - Neuropsychopharmacology
• Principal Investigator: Elisaldo Luiz de Araujo Carlini
• Grantee: Lucas de Oliveira Maia
• Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Depression is a mental disorder affecting thousands of people worldwide and is among the five leading causes of disability. There has been scientific evidence obtained from preclinical studies suggesting an antidepressant effect of some natural cannabinoids (phytocannabinoids) contained in the plant Cannabis sativa L. Thus, the purpose of this study is to evaluate the antidepressant activity of the association between the phytocannabinoids delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-9-THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) in mice, using animal models of depression. Adult Swiss mice will be used. The animals will be distributed among different experimental groups which will receive i.p. a mixture consisting of two extracts of Cannabis sativa containing equal proportions of delta-9-THC and CBD (Sativex®) in doses ranging from 1.25 to 10 mg/kg, imipramine (30 mg/kg) as positive control, or vehicle and will be submitted to the following behavioral tests: (a) assessment of locomotor activity; (b) the forced swimming test; (c) the tail suspension test; (d) apomorphine-induced hypothermia. The parameters evaluated will be: locomotor activity (test a), immobility time (tests b and c), rectal temperature (test d). The administration will be performed in a single or repeated (one time/day during four days; for tests b and c) protocol. The results of this project may be an indication that this product might deserve further investigation for possible therapeutic use in treating depression. (AU)