Neuronal and molecular effects of cannabidiol on the mesolimbic dopamine system: Implications for novel schizophrenia treatments.
Justine Renard, Christopher Norris, Walter J Rushlow, Steven R Laviolette
Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews April 2017 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2017.02.006 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Intervention | Cannabidiol (CBD) |
| Topics | CBD PTSD |
| Keywords | Dopamine Pharmacotherapy Schizophrenia |
| Key findings | The authors argue that CBD modulates mesolimbic dopamine activity and interacts with the serotonin 5-HT1A receptor system, and they cite clinical evidence suggesting CBD may normalize affective and cognitive deficits in schizophrenia. They propose CBD as a promising schizophrenia treatment acting through mesolimbic substrates, while noting that differential molecular and neuronal effects of CBD versus THC remain poorly understood. |
Abstract
Growing clinical and pre-clinical evidence points to a critical role for cannabidiol (CBD), the largest phytochemical component of cannabis, as a potential pharmacotherapy for various neuropsychiatric disorders. In contrast to delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is associated with acute and neurodevelopmental pro-psychotic side-effects, CBD possesses no known psychoactive or dependence-producing properties. However, evidence has demonstrated that CBD strongly modulates the mesolimbic dopamine (DA) system and may possess promising anti-psychotic properties. Despite the psychotropic differences between CBD and THC, little is known regarding their molecular and neuronal effects on the mesolimbic DA system, nor how these differential effects may relate to their potential pro vs. anti-psychotic properties. This review summarizes clinical and pre-clinical evidence demonstrating CBD's modulatory effects on DA activity states within the mesolimbic pathway, functional interactions with the serotonin 5-HT1A receptor system, and their downstream molecular signaling effects. Together with clinical evidence showing that CBD may normalize affective and cognitive deficits associated with schizophrenia, CBD may represent a promising treatment for schizophrenia, acting through novel molecular and neuronal mesolimbic substrates.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on CBD, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 11
- Δ-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol and Cannabidiol produce dissociable effects on prefrontal cortical executive function and regulation of affective behaviors Neuropsychopharmacology November 27, 2018
- Multi-level therapeutic actions of cannabidiol in ketamine-induced schizophrenia psychopathology in male rats. Neuropsychopharmacology December 1, 2024
- Phytochemical interventions for post-traumatic stress disorder: A cluster co-occurrence network analysis using CiteSpace. Journal of integrative medicine July 1, 2023
- Cannabis and Psychosis: A Review of the Risk Factors Involved American Journal of Plant Sciences 2020
- THC and CBD: Villain versus Hero? Insights into Adolescent Exposure. International Journal of Molecular Sciences March 9, 2023
and 6 more in the library
Cites 11
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- Cannabis Use during Adolescent Development: Susceptibility to Psychiatric Illness Frontiers in Psychiatry 2013
- Long-term consequences of adolescent cannabinoid exposure in adult psychopathology Frontiers in Neuroscience November 10, 2014
- Adolescent Cannabinoid Exposure Induces a Persistent Sub-Cortical Hyper-Dopaminergic State and Associated Molecular Adaptations in the Prefrontal Cortex. Cerebral Cortex February 1, 2017
- AKT1 genotype moderates the acute psychotomimetic effects of naturalistically smoked cannabis in young cannabis smokers. Translational Psychiatry February 16, 2016
and 6 more in the library