The effects of cannabidiol and tetrahydrocannabinol on motion-induced emesis in Suncus murinus.

Abstract

The effect of cannabinoids on motion-induced emesis is unknown. The present study investigated the action of phytocannabinoids against motion-induced emesis in Suncus murinus. Suncus murinus were injected intraperitoneally with either cannabidiol (CBD) (0.5, 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 40 mg/kg), Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta(9)-THC; 0.5, 3, 5 and 10 mg/kg) or vehicle 45 min. before exposure to a 10-min. horizontal motion stimulus (amplitude 40 mm, frequency 1 Hz). In further investigations, the CB(1) receptor antagonist, N-(piperidin-1-yl)-5-(4-iodophenyl)-1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-4-methyl-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxamide (AM 251; 5 mg/kg), was injected 15 min. prior to an injection of Delta(9)-THC (3 mg/kg). The motion stimulus was applied 45 min. later. The number of emetic episodes and latency of onset to the first emetic episode were recorded. Pre-treatment with the above doses of CBD did not modify the emetic response to the motion stimulus as compared to the vehicle-treated controls. Application of the higher doses of Delta(9)-THC induced emesis in its own right, which was inhibited by AM 251. Furthermore, pre-treatment with Delta(9)-THC dose-dependently attenuated motion-induced emesis, an effect that was inhibited by AM 251. AM 251 neither induced an emetic response nor modified motion-induced emesis. The present study indicates that Delta(9)-THC, acting via the CB(1) receptors, is anti-emetic to motion, and that CBD has no effect on motion-induced emesis in Suncus murinus.

• Authors: Nina L Cluny, Robert J Naylor, Brian A Whittle, Farideh A Javid
• Journal: Basic & clinical pharmacology & toxicology (Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol) Vol. 103 Issue 2 Pg. 150-6 (Aug 2008) ISSN: 1742-7843 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 18816298 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antiemetics
• Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1
• Cannabidiol
• Dronabinol

Topics

• Animals
• Antiemetics (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Cannabidiol (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Dronabinol (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Motion Sickness (complications, metabolism, prevention & control)
• Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1 (metabolism)
• Shrews
• Vestibule, Labyrinth (drug effects)
• Vomiting (etiology, metabolism, prevention & control)