Authors:
Murillo-Rodríguez E, Millán-Aldaco D, Palomero-Rivero M, Mechoulam R, Drucker-Colín R.
Abstract:
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a constituent of Cannabis sativa that induces
nonpsychotropic effects, and some of its biological actions in sleep
have been described by the authors’ group. Here, the authors report that
when administered 10 or 20 microg/1 microl during the lights-on period
directly into either lateral hypothalamus (LH) or dorsal raphe nuclei
(DRN), which are wake-inducing brain areas, CBD enhanced wakefulness and
decreased slow wave sleep and REM sleep. Furthermore, CBD increased
alpha and theta power spectra but diminished delta power spectra.
Additionally, CBD increased c-Fos expression in LH or DRN. These
findings suggest that this cannabinoid is a wake-inducing compound that
presumably activates neurons in LH and DRN.