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Involvement of serotonin-mediated neurotransmission in the dorsal periaqueductal gray matter on cannabidiol chronic effects in panic-like responses in rats

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Abstract

Rationale

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-psychotomimetic constituent of Cannabis sativa plant that promotes antianxiety and anti-panic effects in animal models after acute systemic or intra-dorsal periaqueductal gray (DPAG) administration. However, the effects of CBD repeated administration, and the possible mechanisms involved, in animal models of anxiety- and panic-related responses remain poorly understood.

Objective

The present study evaluates the role of the serotonergic neurotransmission within the DPAG in the modulation of escape responses of rats chronically treated with CBD.

Methods

Male Wistar rats received acute or repeated (5 mg/Kg/daily/21 days) administration of CBD and were submitted to the elevated T-maze (ETM). We also investigated if CBD effects on the ETM depend on facilitation of 5-HT1A-mediated neurotransmission in the DPAG. To this latter aim, we verified if these effects would be prevented by intra-DPAG injection of the 5-HT1A receptor antagonist WAY100635 (0.37 nmol/0.2 μL). Also, we verified, by in vivo microdialysis, if CBD chronic treatment increases serotonin (5-HT) release and, by quantitative polymerase chain reaction, if there are changes in 5HT-1A or 5HT-2C mRNA expression in DPAG.

Results

The results showed that repeated but not acute peripheral administration of CBD decreases escape responses in the ETM, suggesting a panicolytic effect. This treatment did not change 5HT-1A or 5-HT-2C receptor mRNA expression nor modify serotonin extracellular concentrations in the DPAG. CBD effects were prevented by DPAG injection of the 5-HT1A receptor antagonist.

Conclusions

Together, these findings suggest that repeated treatment with CBD induces anti-panic effects by acting on 5-HT1A receptors in DPAG.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by CNPq and FAPESP grants. We thank Afonso Paulo Padovan and Eleni Tamburus for their technical support. ACC, VPS, and FRF were FAPESP fellowship recipients. MCC and MAV are CNPq fellowship recipients.

Conflict of interest

Authors do not report any conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, 3900 Bandeirantes av., Monte Alegre, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil

    Alline Cristina Campos, Frederico Rogerio Ferreira, Maria Adrielle Vicente, Hélio Zangrossi Jr & Francisco Silveira Guimarães

  2. Department of Biophysics and Pharmacology, Biosciences Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil

    Vanessa de Paula Soares

  3. Laboratory of Psychobiology, School of Philosophy, Sciences and Letters of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil

    Milene C Carvalho & Marcus Lira Brandão

  4. Neuroscience and Behaviour Institute (INeC), Ribeirão Preto Campus, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil

    Milene C Carvalho & Marcus Lira Brandão

  5. Neuroscience and Behavioural Sciences, School of Medicine, Ribeirão Preto Campus, University of São Paulo, 14049-900, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil

    Antonio Waldo Zuardi

  6. Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Applied Neurosciences (NAPNA), University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil

    Alline Cristina Campos, Frederico Rogerio Ferreira, Antonio Waldo Zuardi & Francisco Silveira Guimarães

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  1. Alline Cristina Campos
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  2. Vanessa de Paula Soares
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  3. Milene C Carvalho
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  5. Maria Adrielle Vicente
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  6. Marcus Lira Brandão
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  7. Antonio Waldo Zuardi
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  8. Hélio Zangrossi Jr
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  9. Francisco Silveira Guimarães
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Correspondence to Alline Cristina Campos.

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Campos, A.C., de Paula Soares, V., Carvalho, M.C. et al. Involvement of serotonin-mediated neurotransmission in the dorsal periaqueductal gray matter on cannabidiol chronic effects in panic-like responses in rats. Psychopharmacology 226, 13–24 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-012-2878-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-012-2878-7

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