Cannabinol delays symptom onset in SOD1 (G93A) transgenic mice without affecting survival.
Therapeutic options for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the most common adult-onset motor neuron disorder, remain limited. Emerging evidence from clinical studies and transgenic mouse models of ALS suggests that cannabinoids, the bioactive ingredients of marijuana (Cannabis sativa) might have some therapeutic benefit in this disease. However, Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta(9)-THC), the predominant cannabinoid in marijuana, induces mind-altering effects and is partially addictive, compromising its clinical usefulness. We therefore tested whether cannabinol (CBN), a non-psychotropic cannabinoid, influences disease progression and survival in the SOD1 (G93A) mouse model of ALS. CBN was delivered via subcutaneously implanted osmotic mini-pumps (5 mg/kg/day) over a period of up to 12 weeks. We found that this treatment significantly delays disease onset by more than two weeks while survival was not affected. Further research is necessary to determine whether non-psychotropic cannabinoids might be useful in ameliorating symptoms in ALS.
Weydt
Patrick
P
Department of Neurology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. weydt@u.washington.edu
Hong
Soyon
S
Witting
Anke
A
Möller
Thomas
T
Stella
Nephi
N
Kliot
Michel
M
D000367:Age Factors; D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018450:Disease Progression; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D011336:Probability; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000235:genetics*; D013534:Survival
D011619:Psychotropic Drugs; D013759:Dronabinol; C109415:SOD1 G93A protein; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase