Evaluation of the Modulatory Effects of Minor Cannabinoids and Terpenes on Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Discrimination in Rats. 2023

Catherine F Moore, and Julie Marusich, and Mehdi Haghdoost, and Timothy W Lefever, and Marcel O Bonn-Miller, and Elise M Weerts
Division of Behavioral Biology, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.

Introduction: Cannabis contains a multitude of phytocannabinoids and terpenes in addition to its main psychoactive constituent, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (D9-THC). It is believed that the combination of minor cannabinoids and terpenes with D9-THC may impact the subjective and physiological effects of D9-THC. In this study, select minor cannabinoids (cannabigerol [CBG], cannabidivarin [CBDV], cannabichromene [CBC], tetrahydrocannabivarin [THCV], cannabigerolic acid [CBGa], and cannabidiolic acid [CBDa]) and terpenes (beta-caryophyllene and linalool) were evaluated for their potential to decrease the interoceptive effects of D9-THC using drug discrimination methods. Materials and Methods: Male and female rats (n=16; 50% female) were trained to discriminate D9-THC from vehicle. Following training, D9-THC was administered 45 min pre-session, followed by administration of a minor cannabinoid or terpene (or vehicle) 15 min pre-session. CBG, CBDV, CBC, and THCV were administered at doses of 3-30 mg/kg; CBGa and CBDa were administered at doses of 10-100 mg/kg; beta-caryophyllene and linalool were administered at doses of 10-30 mg/kg. Percentage of D9-THC responding (%) was calculated to assess changes to D9-THCs interoceptive effects. Results: CBG, CBDV, CBC, THCV, CBGa, CBDa, beta-caryophyllene, and linalool had little effect on percent D9-THC responding in either sex. No compounds lowered percent D9-THC responding to 50% or below. THCV, CBC, CBDa, and beta-caryophyllene in combination with D9-THC decreased response rates compared with D9-THC alone. Conclusions: The minor cannabinoids and terpenes examined in the current study did not alter the discriminative stimulus effects of D9-THC. These results suggest that these compounds are unlikely to lower the psychoactive effects of D9-THC in human users.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D005079 Excipients Usually inert substances added to a prescription in order to provide suitable consistency to the dosage form. These include binders, matrix, base or diluent in pills, tablets, creams, salves, etc. Excipient,Stabilizing Agent,Stabilizing Agents,Suspending Agent,Suspending Agents,Agent, Stabilizing,Agent, Suspending,Agents, Stabilizing,Agents, Suspending
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D013729 Terpenes A class of compounds composed of repeating 5-carbon units of HEMITERPENES. Isoprenoid,Terpene,Terpenoid,Isoprenoids,Terpenoids
D013759 Dronabinol A psychoactive compound extracted from the resin of Cannabis sativa (marihuana, hashish). The isomer delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is considered the most active form, producing characteristic mood and perceptual changes associated with this compound. THC,Tetrahydrocannabinol,delta(9)-THC,9-ene-Tetrahydrocannabinol,Marinol,Tetrahydrocannabinol, (6a-trans)-Isomer,Tetrahydrocannabinol, (6aR-cis)-Isomer,Tetrahydrocannabinol, (6aS-cis)-Isomer,Tetrahydrocannabinol, Trans-(+-)-Isomer,Tetrahydrocannabinol, Trans-Isomer,delta(1)-THC,delta(1)-Tetrahydrocannabinol,delta(9)-Tetrahydrocannabinol,9 ene Tetrahydrocannabinol,Tetrahydrocannabinol, Trans Isomer
D051381 Rats The common name for the genus Rattus. Rattus,Rats, Laboratory,Rats, Norway,Rattus norvegicus,Laboratory Rat,Laboratory Rats,Norway Rat,Norway Rats,Rat,Rat, Laboratory,Rat, Norway,norvegicus, Rattus

Related Publications

Catherine F Moore, and Julie Marusich, and Mehdi Haghdoost, and Timothy W Lefever, and Marcel O Bonn-Miller, and Elise M Weerts
April 1995, Psychopharmacology,
Catherine F Moore, and Julie Marusich, and Mehdi Haghdoost, and Timothy W Lefever, and Marcel O Bonn-Miller, and Elise M Weerts
January 1991, Life sciences,
Catherine F Moore, and Julie Marusich, and Mehdi Haghdoost, and Timothy W Lefever, and Marcel O Bonn-Miller, and Elise M Weerts
August 2006, Therapeutic drug monitoring,
Catherine F Moore, and Julie Marusich, and Mehdi Haghdoost, and Timothy W Lefever, and Marcel O Bonn-Miller, and Elise M Weerts
April 1993, Neuropharmacology,
Catherine F Moore, and Julie Marusich, and Mehdi Haghdoost, and Timothy W Lefever, and Marcel O Bonn-Miller, and Elise M Weerts
September 1974, Life sciences,
Catherine F Moore, and Julie Marusich, and Mehdi Haghdoost, and Timothy W Lefever, and Marcel O Bonn-Miller, and Elise M Weerts
January 1975, Pharmacology, biochemistry, and behavior,
Catherine F Moore, and Julie Marusich, and Mehdi Haghdoost, and Timothy W Lefever, and Marcel O Bonn-Miller, and Elise M Weerts
January 1981, Journal of clinical pharmacology,
Catherine F Moore, and Julie Marusich, and Mehdi Haghdoost, and Timothy W Lefever, and Marcel O Bonn-Miller, and Elise M Weerts
February 1975, Teratology,
Catherine F Moore, and Julie Marusich, and Mehdi Haghdoost, and Timothy W Lefever, and Marcel O Bonn-Miller, and Elise M Weerts
January 1972, Psychopharmacologia,
Catherine F Moore, and Julie Marusich, and Mehdi Haghdoost, and Timothy W Lefever, and Marcel O Bonn-Miller, and Elise M Weerts
August 2003, Journal of neuroimmunology,
Copied contents to your clipboard!