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The effects of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol alone and in combination with cannabidiol on fixed-interval performance in rhesus monkeys

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Abstract

It has been reported that cannabidiol (CBD) antagonizes the effects of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) on operant behavior in rats and pigeons. We have replicated this finding with rhesus monkeys. Four rhesus monkeys were trained to lever press on a fixedinterval 5-min schedule of food presentation with a 1-min limited hold and 1-min time out between successive intervals. The effects of 0.3 and 1.0 mg/kg THC alone were determined three times during the experiment; before the CBD-THC interaction, after the CBD-THC interaction and once with the CBD vehicle. A dose of 30 mg/kg CBD, which alone resulted in a 24% reduction in responding, completely antagonized the response rate reduction produced by 0.3 mg/kg THC. The effects of THC revealed a rate-dependent effect that did not conform to the log-linear rate-dependency plots described for most other drugs.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pharmacology Department, Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, 23298, Richmond, Virginia, USA

    Kathleen T. Brady & Robert L. Balster

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  1. Kathleen T. Brady
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  2. Robert L. Balster
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Additional information

This research was reported at the FASEB Meeting in Atlantic City, NJ in 1978 [Fed. Proc. 37: 739 (Abs.) 1978]

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Brady, K.T., Balster, R.L. The effects of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol alone and in combination with cannabidiol on fixed-interval performance in rhesus monkeys. Psychopharmacology 72, 21–26 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00433803

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00433803

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