Modulation of spatial learning and memory by cannabinoid-estrogen interaction in an AD-like cognitive impairment: The role of cannabinoid receptors and BDNF protein.
Mirshekar Mohammad Ali MA, Nadi Farzaneh F, Fanaei Hamed H, Chahkandi Mohadeseh M
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an increasingly prevalent neurodegenerative disorder worldwide, with women showing a higher risk of developing the disease. The decline in steroid hormones after menopause may contribute to the increased susceptibility of women to neurodegenerative conditions. In parallel, cannabis-derived compounds have been reported to alleviate certain symptoms associated with neurological disorders. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of marijuana extract on cognitive impairment and hippocampal molecular markers in an ovariectomized AD-like rat model, and to evaluate whether co-administration with estradiol modifies these effects. The marijuana extract used in this study was characterized by HPLC and was found to contain 8.5% Δ9-THC. AD-like cognitive impairment pathology was induced by intra-hippocampal administration of Aβ25-35 in OVX rats. Animals were treated with marijuana extract (60 mg/kg/day, corresponding to approximately 5.1 mg/kg/day Δ9-THC) either alone or in combination with 17β-estradiol (1 mg/kg every 4 days) for 28 days. Cognitive performance was evaluated using the Morris water maze (MWM). In addition, hippocampal CB1/CB2 receptor expression and BDNF protein levels were measured to examine potential molecular associations. Our findings showed that chronic administration of the marijuana extract improved Aβ25-35-induced deficits in spatial learning and memory. Alterations in CB1 receptor expression and BDNF levels accompanied these behavioral effects. Notably, co-treatment with estradiol did not produce a synergistic effect, suggesting a complex interaction between cannabinoid-related and estrogen-related signaling pathways. These preclinical findings suggest that a THC-standardized marijuana extract may exert neuroprotective-like effects in an AD-like cognitive impairment model. However, because the extract was not fully phytochemically characterized and the mechanistic analyses were correlational, the results should be interpreted cautiously. Further studies are needed to clarify the underlying mechanisms and translational relevance of these findings.