Cannabidiol and Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Interactions in Male and Female Rats With Persistent Inflammatory Pain

Stevie C. Britch, Rebecca M. Craft

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

Cannabidiol (CBD) and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), 2 of the primary constituents of cannabis, are used by some individuals to self-treat chronic pain. It is unclear whether the pain-relieving effects of CBD alone and in combination with THC are consistent across genders and among types of pain. The present study compared the effects of CBD and THC given alone and in combination in male and female rats with Complete Freund's adjuvant-induced inflammatory pain. After induction of hindpaw inflammation, vehicle, CBD (0.05–2.5 mg/kg), THC (0.05–2.0 mg/kg), or a CBD:THC combination (3:1, 1:1, or 1:3 dose ratio) was administered i.p. twice daily for 3 days. Then on day 4, mechanical allodynia, thermal hyperalgesia, weight-bearing, and locomotor activity were assessed 0.5 to 4 hours after administration of the same dose combination. Hindpaw edema and open field (anxiety-like) behaviors were measured thereafter. THC alone was anti-allodynic and anti-hyperalgesic, and decreased paw thickness, locomotion, and open field behaviors. CBD alone was anti-allodynic and anti-hyperalgesic. When combined with THC, CBD tended to decrease THC effects on pain-related behaviors and exacerbate THC-induced anxiety-like behaviors, particularly in females. These results suggest that at the doses tested, CBD-THC combinations may be less beneficial than THC alone for the treatment of chronic inflammatory pain. Perspective: The present study compared CBD and THC effects alone and in combination in male and female rats with persistent inflammatory pain. This study could help clinicians who prescribe cannabis-based medicines for inflammatory pain conditions determine which cannabis constituents may be most beneficial.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)98-111
Number of pages14
JournalJournal of Pain
Volume24
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2023

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 United States Association for the Study of Pain, Inc.

Keywords

  • Antinociception
  • Anxiety
  • Cannabinoids
  • Cannabis
  • Sex differences

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Neurology
  • Clinical Neurology
  • Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine

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