Differential effects of THC- or CBD-rich cannabis extracts on working memory in rats

Abstract

Cannabinoid receptors in the brain (CB 1) take part in modulation of learning, and are particularly important for working and short-term memory. Here, we employed a delayed-matching-to-place (DMTP) task in the open-field water maze and examined the effects of cannabis plant extracts rich in either Δ 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ 9-THC), or rich in cannabidiol (CBD), on spatial working and short-term memory formation in rats. Δ 9-THC-rich extracts impaired performance in the memory trial (trial 2) of the DMTP task in a dose-dependent but delay-independent manner. Deficits appeared at doses of 2 or 5 mg/kg (i.p.) at both 30 s and 4 h delays and were similar in severity compared with synthetic Δ 9-THC. Despite considerable amounts of Δ 9-THC present, CBD-rich extracts had no effect on spatial working/short-term memory, even at doses of up to 50 mg/kg. When given concomitantly, CBD-rich extracts did not reverse memory deficits of the additional Δ 9-THC-rich extract. CBD-rich extracts also did not alter Δ 9-THC-rich extract-induced catalepsy as revealed by the bar test. It appears that spatial working/short-term memory is not sensitive to CBD-rich extracts and that potentiation and antagonism of Δ 9-THC-induced spatial memory deficits is dependent on the ratio between CBD and Δ 9-THC.