Effects of an acute cannabidiol treatment on cocaine self-administration and cue-induced cocaine seeking in male rats.
Cannabidiol is a non-psychoactive compound that is the second most abundant component of cannabis. It has been shown to have a potential therapeutic value for a wide range of disorders, including anxiety, psychosis, and depression. Recently, it was suggested that cannabidiol might be a potential treatment for heroin craving and relapse. Here we investigated the effects of an acute treatment with cannabidiol on cocaine self-administration and cue-induced cocaine seeking in rats. Rats were trained to press a lever to self-administer cocaine (0.5 mg/kg/infusion), first under a fixed interval 20 s (FI-20 s) and then under a progressive ratio (PR) schedule of reinforcement. Cocaine self-administration under a PR schedule of reinforcement was not attenuated by cannabidiol injections (5.0 mg/kg and 10.0 mg/kg; i.p.) when tested 30 min and 24 h after treatment. Cannabidiol treatment (5.0 mg/kg or 10.0 mg/kg) also did not attenuate cue-induced cocaine seeking in rats after a withdrawal period of 14 days. In contrast, treatment with cannabidiol (10.0 mg/kg; i.p.) resulted in a statistically significant anxiolytic effect in the elevated plus-maze. Our findings suggest that, under the conditions described here, an acute cannabidiol treatment has a minimal effect on a rat model of cocaine intake and relapse.
Department of Psychology, CSBN/GRNC, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada.
Ashraf
A
Mahmud
Department of Psychology, CSBN/GRNC, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada.
Stephanie
S
Gallant
Department of Psychology, CSBN/GRNC, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada.
Firas
F
Sedki
Department of Psychology, CSBN/GRNC, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada.
Tracey
T
D'Cunha
Department of Psychology, CSBN/GRNC, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada.
Uri
U
Shalev
D000818:Animals; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D002185:Cannabidiol / Q000494:pharmacology; D003042:Cocaine / Q000494:pharmacology; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000187:drug effects; D003463:Cues; D003932:Heroin; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D012646:Self Administration / Q000379:methods
D002185:Cannabidiol; D003932:Heroin; D003042:Cocaine
Cannabidiol; cocaine; progressive ratio; relapse