Abstract

Excitotoxicity is a paradigm used to explain the biochemical events in both acute neuronal damage and in slowly progressive, neurodegenerative diseases. Here, we show in a longitudinal magnetic resonance imaging study that Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ⁹-THC), the main active compound in marijuana, reduces neuronal injury in neonatal rats injected intracerebrally with the Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase inhibitor ouabain to elicit excitotoxicity. In the acute phase Δ⁹-THC reduced the volume of cytotoxic edema by 22%. After 7 d, 36% less neuronal damage was observed in treated rats compared with control animals. Coadministration of the CB₁ cannabinoid receptor antagonist SR141716 prevented the neuroprotective actions of Δ⁹-THC, indicating that Δ⁹-THC afforded protection to neurons via the CB₁ receptor. In Δ⁹-THC-treated rats the volume of astrogliotic tissue was 36% smaller. The CB₁ receptor antagonist did not block this effect. These results provide evidence that the cannabinoid system can serve to protect the brain against neurodegeneration.