Cannabinol and cannabidiol exert opposing effects on rat feeding patterns

Farrimond, J. A., Whalley, B. J. and Williams, C. M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4452-671X (2012) Cannabinol and cannabidiol exert opposing effects on rat feeding patterns. Psychopharmacology, 223 (1). pp. 117-129. ISSN 0033-3158 doi: 10.1007/s00213-012-2697-x

Abstract/Summary

Rationale: Increased food consumption following Δ9- tetrahydrocannabinol-induced cannabinoid type 1 receptor agonism is well documented. However, possible non-Δ9- tetrahydrocannabinol phytocannabinoid-induced feeding effects have yet to be fully investigated. Therefore, we have assessed the effects of the individual phytocannabinoids, cannabigerol, cannabidiol and cannabinol, upon feeding behaviors. Methods: Adult male rats were treated (p.o.) with cannabigerol, cannabidiol, cannabinol or cannabinol plus the CB1R antagonist, SR141716A. Prior to treatment, rats were satiated and food intake recorded following drug administration. Data were analyzed for hourly intake and meal microstructure. Results: Cannabinol induced a CB1R-mediated increase in appetitive behaviors via significant reductions in the latency to feed and increases in consummatory behaviors via increases in meal 1 size and duration. Cannabinol also significantly increased the intake during hour 1 and total chow consumed during the test. Conversely, cannabidiol significantly reduced total chow consumption over the test period. Cannabigerol administration induced no changes to feeding behavior. Conclusion: This is the first time cannabinol has been shown to increase feeding. Therefore, cannabinol could, in the future, provide an alternative to the currently used and psychotropic Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol-based medicines since cannabinol is currently considered to be non-psychotropic. Furthermore, cannabidiol reduced food intake in line with some existing reports, supporting the need for further mechanistic and behavioral work examining possible anti-obesity effects of cannabidiol.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/28010
Identification Number/DOI	10.1007/s00213-012-2697-x
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Life Sciences > School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences > Department of Psychology Life Sciences > School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences > Neuroscience Life Sciences > School of Chemistry, Food and Pharmacy > School of Pharmacy > Division of Pharmacology Life Sciences > School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences > Nutrition and Health
Publisher	Springer Verlag
Download/View statistics	View download statistics for this item