title: Cannabidiol administration into the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis alters cardiovascular responses induced by acute restraint stress through 5-HT₁A receptor.
abstract: Systemic administration of cannabidiol (CBD) is able to attenuate cardiovascular responses to acute restraint stress through activation of 5-HT1A receptors. Previous results from our group suggest that the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) is involved in the antiaversive effects of the CBD. Moreover, it has been proposed that synapses within the BNST influence restraint-evoked cardiovascular changes, in particular by an inhibitory influence on the tachycardiac response associated to restraint stress. Thus, the present work investigated the effects of CBD injected into the BNST on cardiovascular changes induced by acute restraint stress and if these effects would involve the local activation of 5-HT1A receptors. The exposition to restraint stress increased both blood pressure and heart rate (HR). The microinjection of CBD (30 and 60 nmol) into the BNST enhanced the restraint-evoked HR increase, in a dose-dependent manner, without affecting the pressor response. The selective 5-HT1A receptor antagonist WAY100635 by itself did not change the cardiovascular responses to restraint stress, but blocked the effects of CBD. These results showed that CBD microinjected into the BNST enhanced the HR increase associated with acute restraint stress without affecting the blood pressure response. Although these results are not in agreement with those observed after systemic administration of CBD, they are similar to effects observed after reversible inactivation of the BNST. Moreover, similar to the effects observed after systemic administration, CBD effects in the BNST seem to depend on activation of 5-HT1A receptors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto 14090-090, Brazil; Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Applied Neurosciences (NAPNA), University of São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Felipe V
authors.initials: FV
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.forename: Fernando H F
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.forename: Francisco S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Guimarães
authors.forename: Fernando M A
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Correa
authors.forename: Leonardo B M
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Resstel
authors.forename: Carlos C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Crestani
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002185:Cannabidiol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D057967:Infusions, Intraventricular; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D044282:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1A / Q000502:physiology*; D012149:Restraint, Physical; D012686:Septal Nuclei / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D044282:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1A; D002185:Cannabidiol