Efeitos do canabidiol nos comportamentos do tipo ansioso, depressivo e déficit cognitivo em ratos wistar expostos a produtos da pirólise do crack durante o período gestacional

Abstract

The use of crack is a serious public health issue, and when it occurs during pregnancy, it not only harms the mother but also the developing fetus. By crossing the hematoplacental barrier, this drug can promote placental alterations and premature birth. Children exposed to crack during pregnancy are more likely to develop cognitive deficits, anxiety, and depression compared to non-exposed children. Our research group has developed a model using Wistar rats that closely replicates prenatal crack exposure and has identified the emergence of various neuropsychopharmacological disorders, such as anxiety- and depression-like behaviors. However, to date, there is a significant gap in research regarding interventions that could mitigate the negative alterations induced in offspring by prenatal crack exposure. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of full-spectrum cannabidiol (CBD) oil on anxiety, depression, locomotor activity, and long-term memory in an animal model. For this purpose, pregnant rats (n = 40) were exposed to crack (400 mg) from the 5th to the 21st gestational day (GD). After birth, their offspring were treated with either saline solution (0.9%) or CBD (10 mg/kg) and, at the end of treatment, underwent behavioral tests to assess anxiety- and depression-like behaviors, spontaneous locomotion, and long-term memory. Our data showed that prenatal crack exposure induced anxiety-like behavior in male animals by reducing their time spent in the open arms in the EPM test and depression-like behavior in both male and female animals by decreasing the latency to immobility and increasing total immobility time in the FST. Additionally, crack did not cause spontaneous locomotion or long-term memory impairments in either male or female animals. Furthermore, CBD was found to mitigate the negative effects of crack by increasing the time spent in the open arms of the EPM, as well as increasing the latency to immobility and reducing total immobility in the FST, indicatingpotential anxiolytic and antidepressant effects. However, further studies are needed to understand the mechanisms of action of CBD better and, thus, explore its use in new therapeutic approaches.