Abstract
The effects of cannabidiol (CBD) were compared to those produced by haloperidol in rats submitted to experimental models predictive of antipsychotic activity. Several doses of CBD (15–480 mg/kg) and haloperidol (0.062–1.0 mg/kg) were tested in each model. First, CBD increased the effective doses 50% (or) ED50 of apomorphine for induction of the sniffing and biting stereotyped behaviors. In addition, both CBD and haloperidol reduced the occurrence of stereotyped biting induced by apomorphine (6.4 mg/kg), increased plasma prolactin levels and produced palpebral ptosis, as compared to control solutions. However, CBD did not induce catalepsy even at the highest doses, in contrast to haloperidol. Such a pharmacological profile is compatible with that of an “atypical” antipsychotic agent, though the mechanism of action is uncertain and may not be identical to that of the dopamine antagonists.
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Zuardi, A.W., Antunes Rodrigues, J. & Cunha, J.M. Effects of cannabidiol in animal models predictive of antipsychotic activity. Psychopharmacology 104, 260–264 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02244189
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02244189