Unveiling behavioral and molecular neuroadaptations related to the antidepressant action of cannabidiol in the unpredictable chronic mild stress model
Frontiers in Pharmacology April 18, 2023 María Salud García-Gutiérrez, Daniela Navarro, Amaya Austrich-Olivares et al.
Cannabidiol (CBD) produced faster anxiolytic and antidepressant-like effects than sertraline in male mice exposed to chronic mild stress. CBD showed effects in the light-dark box and tail suspension tests after 4 and 7 days, respectively, while sertraline required 14 days. CBD also improved cognitive impairment and anhedonia more effectively than sertraline. Combining CBD with sertraline produced similar effects to CBD alone in some tests but worse outcomes in cognitive and social interaction tests. CBD reversed all stress-induced molecular changes in the brain, whereas sertraline and the combination failed to restore certain receptors and neurotrophic factors in the hippocampus.