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Biomolecules
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Cannabinoids in Neurobehavioral Modulation
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Cannabinoids in Neurobehavioral Modulation

A special issue of Biomolecules (ISSN 2218-273X). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Biology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2025 | Viewed by 2510

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Francisco Navarrete

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Instituto de Neurociencias, Miguel Hernández University, Av. Ramón y Cajal s/n, San Juan de Alicante, 03550 Alicante, Spain
Interests: cannabinoids; addiction; psychiatry; neurology; translational research; molecular biology; neuropsychopharmacology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. María S. García Gutiérrez

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Instituto de Neurociencias, Miguel Hernández University, Av. Ramón y Cajal s/n, 03550 San Juan de Alicante, Alicante, Spain
Interests: cannabinoid receptors; psychiatry; neuroglia; animal models; neuropharmacology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Since the discovery first of the main phytocannabinoids of the cannabis plant and then of the main components of the endocannabinoid system, the wide distribution of this neuromodulatory system and its crucial involvement in the functional regulation of the central nervous system have become apparent. In this sense, there has been great interest in recent decades in identifying and understanding the role of the endocannabinoid system in physiological conditions and how it is altered in various psychiatric, neurological or addictive disorders. Similarly, much emphasis has been placed on understanding the effects of functional manipulation of this system through the use of both phytocannabinoids and synthetic cannabinoids, with a particular focus on the potential therapeutic benefits that could be derived for the treatment of brain diseases.

This Special Issue aims to collect original articles or reviews (narrative or systematic) that mainly focus on the neurobehavioural actions derived from the use of cannabinoid compounds, from a translational point of view, by collecting preclinical data. Special attention will be given to manuscripts that provide relevant information from a therapeutic perspective on the use of cannabinoid compounds in the context of different disorders of the nervous system, as well as those related to the effects of cannabis use at different stages of life, in view of the increasing and worrying use worldwide, especially in vulnerable populations such as adolescents or pregnant women.

Dr. Francisco Navarrete
Prof. Dr. María S. García Gutiérrez 
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biomolecules is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • cannabinoids
  • neurobehavior
  • brain diseases
  • therapeutic
  • translational

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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13 pages, 1899 KiB  
Article
Cannabinoid Regulation of Murine Vaginal Secretion
by Natalia Murataeva, Sam Mattox, Kyle Yust and Alex Straiker
Biomolecules 2025, 15(4), 472; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom15040472 - 24 Mar 2025
Viewed by 212
Abstract
Tearing and salivation are wholly dependent on the activity of exocrine (lacrimal and salivary) glands, whereas vaginal moisture and secretion rely on a combination of exudation and exocrine secretion. Exocrine gland disorders impact millions, and women with Sjögren’s Syndrome often experience dry eye [...] Read more.
Tearing and salivation are wholly dependent on the activity of exocrine (lacrimal and salivary) glands, whereas vaginal moisture and secretion rely on a combination of exudation and exocrine secretion. Exocrine gland disorders impact millions, and women with Sjögren’s Syndrome often experience dry eye and mouth as well as vaginal dryness. Cannabis users’ complaints of dry eye and ‘cottonmouth’ are well-known, but some female cannabis users also report vaginal dryness. The regulation of vaginal secretion by the cannabinoid signaling system is essentially unstudied. We recently reported that despite their small size and nocturnal nature, laboratory mice have measurable basal vaginal moisture and pheromone-stimulated secretory responses that are regulated by circadian and estrous factors. We tested the regulation of vaginal moisture by cannabinoid CB1 receptors in this model. We now report that the cannabinoid receptor agonist CP55940 does not alter baseline vaginal moisture but prevents a stimulated secretory response due to a local peri-vaginal effect. Chronic intermittent CP55940 reduces basal vaginal moisture but also unmasks or induces a potentiating effect for CP55940, suggesting multiple sites of action. The acute and chronic effects likely occur via CB1 receptors. Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the chief psychoactive ingredient of cannabis, a partial agonist at CB1, has no acute or chronic effects. In summary, strong acute activation of CB1 receptors in a murine model does not reduce vaginal moisture but does prevent a pheromone-stimulated vaginal secretory response. In contrast, chronic intermittent CB1 activation reduces baseline vaginal moisture. The extent to which these findings translate to humans remains to be determined. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cannabinoids in Neurobehavioral Modulation)
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15 pages, 1174 KiB  
Article
Cannabidiol Modulates Neuroinflammatory Markers in a PTSD Model Conducted on Female Rats
by Anna Portugalov, Gaia Peled, Sharon Zorin and Irit Akirav
Biomolecules 2024, 14(11), 1384; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom14111384 - 30 Oct 2024
Viewed by 1080
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating neuropsychiatric condition closely linked to neuroinflammation, with a higher prevalence in women. Cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive cannabinoid, has shown promise as a potential treatment for PTSD. In this study, we used a PTSD model in which [...] Read more.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating neuropsychiatric condition closely linked to neuroinflammation, with a higher prevalence in women. Cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive cannabinoid, has shown promise as a potential treatment for PTSD. In this study, we used a PTSD model in which female rats were subjected to a severe foot shock followed by contextual situational reminders (SRs). Testing was conducted one month after exposure. The rats received daily CBD injections for three weeks during the SRs, from days 7 to 28. Two days after the final SR, the rats underwent five extinction trials, followed by the forced swim test (FST). After a five-day rest period, the rats were sacrificed, and brain tissues from the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and ventral subiculum (vSUB) were analyzed for inflammatory markers. Chronic CBD treatment reversed impairments in fear extinction caused by shock and SR. It also reduced learned helplessness in the FST and decreased the upregulation of mPFC-il1β induced by shock and SRs. Additionally, exposure to shock and SRs downregulated mPFC-il6 while upregulating vSUB-il6. CBD treatment further downregulated il6 expression in the vSUB compared to the vehicle groups. Our findings show that CBD effectively inhibited the development of PTSD-like behaviors and suppressed neuroinflammation in the mPFC. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cannabinoids in Neurobehavioral Modulation)
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14 pages, 1422 KiB  
Systematic Review
Does Cannabis Use Contribute to Schizophrenia? A Causation Analysis Based on Epidemiological Evidence
by Sepehr Pourebrahim, Tooba Ahmad, Elisabeth Rottmann, Johannes Schulze and Bertram Scheller
Biomolecules 2025, 15(3), 368; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom15030368 - 4 Mar 2025
Viewed by 440
Abstract
Cannabis abuse has been linked to acute psychotic symptoms as well as to the development of schizophrenia. Although the association has been well described, causation has not yet been investigated. Therefore, we investigated whether cannabis or cannabinoid use is causal for the development [...] Read more.
Cannabis abuse has been linked to acute psychotic symptoms as well as to the development of schizophrenia. Although the association has been well described, causation has not yet been investigated. Therefore, we investigated whether cannabis or cannabinoid use is causal for the development of schizophrenia, conducting a systematic literature review according to the PRISM guidelines. Epidemiological studies and randomized clinical trials investigating the links between cannabis and psychosis-like events (PLE) and schizophrenia were identified (according to PRISM guidelines), and relevant studies were included in a Forest plot analysis. Confounder analysis was performed using a funnel plot, and the Hill causality criteria were used to estimate causation. A total of 18 studies fulfilled the search criteria; 10 studies were included in a forest plot. All studies reported an increased risk for PLE or schizophrenia, and nine of the ten studies, a significant increase; the overall OR was calculated to be 2.88 (CI 2.24 to 3.70), with a twofold-higher risk calculated for cannabis use during adolescence. Confounder effects were indicated by a funnel plot. The Hill criteria indicated a high likelihood for the contribution of cannabis to schizophrenia development. Cannabinoids likely contribute to chronic psychotic events and schizophrenia, especially if taken during adolescence. This effect likely increases with a high cannabis THC concentration and increased frequency of cannabis use, and is stronger in males than in females. This points to the possibility of a selective cannabis toxicity on synaptic plasticity in adolescence, as compared to adult cannabis use. Cannabis use should be regulated and discouraged, and prevention efforts should be strengthened, especially with reference to adolescence. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cannabinoids in Neurobehavioral Modulation)
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