title: Anti-aversive effects of cannabidiol on innate fear-induced behaviors evoked by an ethological model of panic attacks based on a prey vs the wild snake Epicrates cenchria crassus confrontation paradigm.
abstract: Several pharmacological targets have been proposed as modulators of panic-like reactions. However, interest should be given to other potential therapeutic neurochemical agents. Recent attention has been given to the potential anxiolytic properties of cannabidiol, because of its complex actions on the endocannabinoid system together with its effects on other neurotransmitter systems. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of cannabidiol on innate fear-related behaviors evoked by a prey vs predator paradigm. Male Swiss mice were submitted to habituation in an arena containing a burrow and subsequently pre-treated with intraperitoneal administrations of vehicle or cannabidiol. A constrictor snake was placed inside the arena, and defensive and non-defensive behaviors were recorded. Cannabidiol caused a clear anti-aversive effect, decreasing explosive escape and defensive immobility behaviors outside and inside the burrow. These results show that cannabidiol modulates defensive behaviors evoked by the presence of threatening stimuli, even in a potentially safe environment following a fear response, suggesting a panicolytic effect.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Neuroanatomia and Neuropsicobiologia, Departamento de Farmacologia, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto da Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto (SP), Brasil.
authors.forename: Andrés
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Uribe-Mariño
authors.forename: Audrey
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Francisco
authors.forename: Maria Angélica
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Castiblanco-Urbina
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Twardowschy
authors.forename: Carlos José
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Salgado-Rohner
authors.forename: José Alexandre S
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Crippa
authors.forename: Jaime Eduardo Cecílio
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Hallak
authors.forename: Antônio Waldo
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Zuardi
authors.forename: Norberto Cysne
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Coimbra
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002185:Cannabidiol / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005239:Fear / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007323:Instinct; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012911:Snakes
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D002185:Cannabidiol