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A comparison of cannabidiolic acid with other treatments for anticipatory nausea using a rat model of contextually elicited conditioned gaping

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Abstract

Rationale

The effectiveness of cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) was compared with other potential treatments for anticipatory nausea (AN), using a rat model of contextually elicited conditioned gaping reactions.

Objective

The potential of ondansetron (OND), Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), chlordiazepoxide (CDP), CBDA, and co-administration of CBDA and tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) to reduce AN and modify locomotor activity was evaluated.

Materials and methods

Following four pairings of a novel context with lithium chloride (LiCl), the rats were given a test for AN. On the test trial, they received pretreatment injections of the following: vehicle, OND (0.1 or 1.0 mg/kg), THC (0.5 mg/kg), CBDA (0.0001, 0.001, 0.01, 0.1 mg/kg or 1.0 mg/kg), CDP (1, 5, or 10 mg/kg) or co-administration of subthreshold doses of CBDA (0.1 μg/kg), and THCA (5 μg/kg). Immediately following the AN test trial in all experiments, rats were given a 15 min locomotor activity test. Finally, the potential of CBDA (0.001, 0.01, 0.1, and 1 mg/kg) to attenuate conditioned freezing to a shock-paired tone was assessed.

Results

THC, CBDA, and CDP, but not OND, reduced contextually elicited gaping reactions. Co-administration of subthreshold doses of CBDA and THCA also suppressed AN, and this effect was blocked by pretreatment with either a cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) receptor antagonist or a 5-hydroxytryptamine 1A (5-HT1A) receptor antagonist. CDP (but not CBDA, THC or CBDA and THCA) also suppressed locomotor activity at effective doses. CBDA did not modify the expression of conditioned fear.

Conclusions

CBDA has therapeutic potential as a highly potent and selective treatment for AN without psychoactive or locomotor effects.

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Acknowledgment

The funding for these experiments was provided by G.W. Pharmaceuticals, UK and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada to LAP.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology and Collaborative Neuroscience Program, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd E, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada

    Erin M. Rock, Cheryl L. Limebeer, Roshan Navaratnam, Martin A. Sticht, Natasha Bonner, Kristin Engeland, Rachel Downey, Heather Morris, Meagan Jackson & Linda A. Parker

Authors
  1. Erin M. Rock
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  2. Cheryl L. Limebeer
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  3. Roshan Navaratnam
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  4. Martin A. Sticht
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  5. Natasha Bonner
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  6. Kristin Engeland
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  7. Rachel Downey
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  8. Heather Morris
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  9. Meagan Jackson
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  10. Linda A. Parker
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Linda A. Parker.

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Rock, E.M., Limebeer, C.L., Navaratnam, R. et al. A comparison of cannabidiolic acid with other treatments for anticipatory nausea using a rat model of contextually elicited conditioned gaping. Psychopharmacology 231, 3207–3215 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-014-3498-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-014-3498-1

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