Title: Sex-Dependent Effects of Cannabinoid Combinations on Mechanical Allodynia in a Chronic Neuropathic Pain Model
Abstract: Chronic neuropathic pain (CNP) is a debilitating condition that affects millions of people worldwide, and treatments are limited by side effects and addiction risk. Studies have shown that cannabinoids such as cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabigerol (CBG) have potential in treating CNP by acting on the brain regions that regulate pain. However, it is currently unclear whether the effects of the cannabinoids on pain behavior and brain activity differ based upon sex or when used in combination. We used the spared nerve injury (SNI) model of CNP in mice to induce mechanical hypersensitivity. The mice were given doses of either vehicle, CBD (10mg/kg), or CBD + CBG (10mg/kg + 10mg/kg) before using von Frey and dynamic weight bearing assays to test mechanical hypersensitivity and weight bearing behavior. We found that CBD reduced pain behavior in females but not males, while the combination of CBD+CBG was effective in both groups. This suggests that cannabinoids could be used as an alternative treatment for CNP. Ongoing work is investigating the effect of cannabinoids on activity in brain circuits that regulate pain to provide insight into mechanisms of cannabinoid analgesia.
Abstract: Chronic neuropathic pain (CNP) is a debilitating condition that affects millions of people worldwide, and treatments are limited by side effects and addiction risk. Studies have shown that cannabinoids such as cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabigerol (CBG) have potential in treating CNP by acting on the brain regions that regulate pain. However, it is currently unclear whether the effects of the cannabinoids on pain behavior and brain activity differ based upon sex or when used in combination. We used the spared nerve injury (SNI) model of CNP in mice to induce mechanical hypersensitivity. The mice were given doses of either vehicle, CBD (10mg/kg), or CBD + CBG (10mg/kg + 10mg/kg) before using von Frey and dynamic weight bearing assays to test mechanical hypersensitivity and weight bearing behavior. We found that CBD reduced pain behavior in females but not males, while the combination of CBD+CBG was effective in both groups. This suggests that cannabinoids could be used as an alternative treatment for CNP. Ongoing work is investigating the effect of cannabinoids on activity in brain circuits that regulate pain to provide insight into mechanisms of cannabinoid analgesia.