Effects of Chronic, Low-Dose Cannabinoids, Cannabidiol, Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol and a Combination of Both, on Amyloid Pathology in the 5xFAD Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease

Abstract

There is an urgent need for novel therapies to treat Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Among others, the use of cannabinoids such as delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) has been proposed as a putative approach based on their anti-inflammatory effects. The present work was designed to explore the effects of chronic (28 days) treatment with low doses of cannabinoids: CBD (0.273 mg/kg), THC (0.205 mg/kg), or a combination of both (CBD:THC; 0.273:0.205mg/kg) in the 5xFAD mouse model of AD. Our data revealed that THC-treated 5xFAD mice (but not other treatment groups) exhibited anxiogenic and depressant-like behavior. A significant improvement in spatial memory was observed only in the CBD:THC-treated group. Interestingly, all cannabinoid-treated groups showed significantly increased cortical levels of the insoluble form of amyloid beta 1–42. These effects were not accompanied by changes in molecular parameters of inflammation at the messenger RNA (mRNA) or protein level. These data reveal differential effects of chronic low-dose cannabinoids and point to a role of these cannabinoids in the processing of amyloid peptides in brains of 5xFAD mice.