Cannabidiol modulates the motivational and anxiety‐like effects of 3,4‐methylenedioxypyrovalerone (Mdpv) in mice

Abstract

3,4‐Methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) is a new psychoactive substance (NPS) and the most widespread and life‐threatening synthetic cathinone of the “bath salts”. Preclinical research has proven the cocaine‐like psychostimulant effects of MDPV and its potential for abuse. Canna-bidiol (CBD) is a non‐psychotropic phytocannabinoid that has emerged as a new potential treatment for drug addiction. Here, we tested the effects of CBD (20 mg/kg) on MDPV (2 mg/kg)‐induced conditioned place preference and MDPV (0.05 and 0.075 mg/kg/infusion) self‐administration para-digms. In addition, we assessed the effects of the co‐administration of CBD and MDPV (3 and 4 mg/kg) on anxiety‐like behaviour using the elevated plus maze (EPM). CBD mitigated the MDPV-induced conditioned place preference. On the contrary, CBD administration throughout the MDPV (0.075 mg/kg/infusion) self‐administration increased drug‐seeking and taking behaviours, but only in the high‐responders group of mice. Furthermore, CBD exerted anxiolytic‐like effects, exclusively in MDPV‐treated mice. Taken together, our results indicate that CBD modulation of MDPV‐induced motivational responses in mice varies depending on the requirements of the learning task, resulting in a complex response. Therefore, further research attempting to decipher the behavioural and molecular interactions between CBD and MDPV is needed.