Investigation of the effects of cannabidiol on vacuous chewing movements, locomotion, oxidative stress and blood glucose in rats treated with oral haloperidol

Abstract

Objectives: Tardive dyskinesia (TD) unlike acute dystonia may be irreversible. This study investigated the effects of oral cannabidiol (CBD) on haloperidol-induced vacuous chewing movement (VCM) model of TD. Methods: There were six experimental groups with different combinations of oral cannabidiol with 5 mg/kg of haloperidol given orally. Behavioural assays and FBS were measured. VCMs were assessed after the last dose of medication. Blood for oxidative stress assays was collected on the 8th day after the administration of the last dose of medication. Results: This study found that CBD co-administration with haloperidol attenuated the VCMs and increased motor tone produced by haloperidol. CBD alone at 5 mg/kg appears to have anxiolytic properties but may not be as effective as haloperidol which exhibited a greater anxiolytic effect at 5 mg/kg. Treatment with CBD alone at 5 mg/kg also appeared to enhance brain DPPH scavenging activity. Conclusions: We confirmed that CBD can ameliorate motor impairments produced by haloperidol. Our data suggest that CBD can be combined with haloperidol to prevent the emergent of extrapyramidal side effects and long-term movement disorders, such as acute dystonic disorder and TD.

Keywords:

• Antioxidative systems
• antipsychotics
• behaviour
• tardive dyskinesia
• cannabidiol

Acknowledgements

None.

Disclosure statement

The company however did not contribute towards the development of the protocol, the experiments or to the analysis or interpretation of the data.

Additional information

Funding

This research is supported by the South African Research Chair in PTSD hosted by the Stellenbosch University, funded by the Department of Science and Technology South Africa and administered by the National Research Foundation. This work was supported by Cannabis Science Inc.