Effects of cannabidiol and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol in the elevated plus maze in mice

Behav Pharmacol. 2022 Apr 1;33(2&3):206-212. doi: 10.1097/FBP.0000000000000636.

Abstract

The present study tested the effects of cannabidiol (CBD) alone, Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) alone, and CBD and THC in combination (15:1 ratio) in the elevated plus maze (EPM), a test useful for the study of anxiety. In dose-response studies, adult, male CD1 mice were injected intraperitoneally with (1) CBD alone (0-96 mg/kg), (2) THC alone (0-6.4 mg/kg) or (3) CBD+THC in a 15:1 combination (0.0 + 0.0 mg/kg to 96.0 + 6.4 mg/kg). Diazepam (2.5 mg/kg) was also tested as a positive control. It was found that diazepam significantly increased open arm time in the EPM. CBD alone had no significant effect at any dose or injection-test interval. THC alone, however, caused a significant increase in open arm time at 3.2 and 6.4 mg/kg - doses which did not affect locomotion as measured by closed-arm entries. The effect of the combination of CBD and THC was not significantly different than the effect of THC alone. CBD alone did not have anxiolytic-like effects. THC had anxiolytic-like effects at nontoxic doses. No interaction between THC and CBD was seen when the two were combined.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Anxiety Agents* / pharmacology
  • Cannabidiol* / pharmacology
  • Diazepam / pharmacology
  • Dronabinol / pharmacology
  • Elevated Plus Maze Test
  • Male
  • Mice

Substances

  • Anti-Anxiety Agents
  • Cannabidiol
  • Dronabinol
  • Diazepam