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Memory-rescuing effects of cannabidiol in an animal model of cognitive impairment relevant to neurodegenerative disorders

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Abstract

Rationale

Cannabidiol, the main nonpsychotropic constituent of Cannabis sativa, possesses a large number of pharmacological effects including anticonvulsive, sedative, hypnotic, anxiolytic, antipsychotic, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective, as demonstrated in clinical and preclinical studies. Many neurodegenerative disorders involve cognitive deficits, and this has led to interest in whether cannabidiol could be useful in the treatment of memory impairment associated to these diseases.

Objectives

We used an animal model of cognitive impairment induced by iron overload in order to test the effects of cannabidiol in memory-impaired rats.

Methods

Rats received vehicle or iron at postnatal days 12–14. At the age of 2 months, they received an acute intraperitoneal injection of vehicle or cannabidiol (5.0 or 10.0 mg/kg) immediately after the training session of the novel object recognition task. In order to investigate the effects of chronic cannabidiol, iron-treated rats received daily intraperitoneal injections of cannabidiol for 14 days. Twenty-four hours after the last injection, they were submitted to object recognition training. Retention tests were performed 24 h after training.

Results

A single acute injection of cannabidiol at the highest dose was able to recover memory in iron-treated rats. Chronic cannabidiol improved recognition memory in iron-treated rats. Acute or chronic cannabidiol does not affect memory in control rats.

Conclusions

The present findings provide evidence suggesting the potential use of cannabidiol for the treatment of cognitive decline associated with neurodegenerative disorders. Further studies, including clinical trials, are warranted to determine the usefulness of cannabidiol in humans suffering from neurodegenerative disorders.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq; grant number 305905/2009-0 to N.S.), and the National Institute for Translational Medicine (INCT-TM). JASC, JECH, AWZ, and NS are recipients of the CNPq fellowship research awards. TB is a recipient of the FAPERGS fellowship.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Neurobiology and Developmental Biology Laboratory, Faculty of Biosciences, Pontifical Catholic University, 90619-900, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

    Elen V. Fagherazzi, Vanessa A. Garcia, Natasha Maurmann, Thielly Bervanger, Luis H. Halmenschlager, Stefano B. Busato & Nadja Schröder

  2. National Institute for Translational Medicine (INCT-TM), 90035-003, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

    Elen V. Fagherazzi, Vanessa A. Garcia, Natasha Maurmann, Luis H. Halmenschlager, Jaime E. Hallak, Antônio W. Zuardi, José A. Crippa & Nadja Schröder

  3. Departamento de Neurociências e Ciências do Comportamento, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, 14049-900, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil

    Jaime E. Hallak, Antônio W. Zuardi & José A. Crippa

  4. Department of Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Biosciences, Pontifical Catholic University, Av. Ipiranga, 6681 Prédio 12D, Sala 340, 90619-900, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

    Nadja Schröder

Authors
  1. Elen V. Fagherazzi
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  2. Vanessa A. Garcia
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  3. Natasha Maurmann
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  5. Luis H. Halmenschlager
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  6. Stefano B. Busato
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  7. Jaime E. Hallak
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  8. Antônio W. Zuardi
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  9. José A. Crippa
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  10. Nadja Schröder
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nadja Schröder.

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All the experiments comply with the current Brazilian laws.

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Fagherazzi, E.V., Garcia, V.A., Maurmann, N. et al. Memory-rescuing effects of cannabidiol in an animal model of cognitive impairment relevant to neurodegenerative disorders. Psychopharmacology 219, 1133–1140 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-011-2449-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-011-2449-3

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