“The administration of cannabidiol has shown promising evidence in the treatment of some neuropsychiatric disorders, including cocaine addiction. However, little information is available as to the mechanisms by which cannabidiol reduces drug use and compulsive seeking.
We investigated the role of adult hippocampal neurogenesis in reducing cocaine voluntary intake produced by repeated cannabidiol treatment in mice.
Cannabidiol (20 mg/kg) reduced cocaine self-administration behaviour acquisition and total cocaine intake and enhanced adult hippocampal neurogenesis.
The present study confirms that adult hippocampal neurogenesis is one of the mechanisms by which cannabidiol lowers cocaine reinforcement and demonstrates the functional implication of adult hippocampal neurogenesis in cocaine voluntary consumption in mice.
Such findings highlight the possible use of cannabidiol for developing new pharmacotherapies to manage cocaine use disorders.”