J Appl Biomed 14:41-48, 2016 | DOI: 10.1016/j.jab.2015.04.005

Pharmacological study of a cannabinoid-containing eyedrop formulation in dogs and mice

Aline Maria Stolf^a, Daiana Lugarini^a, Anabel de Oliveira^a, Adriana Pastre Sereniki^a,b, Caroline Santos Capitelli^a, Douglas Hideki Tanaka^c, Fabiano Montiani Ferreira^c, Maria Aparecida Barbato Frazão Vital^a, Alexandra Acco^a,*

^a Department of Pharmacology, Federal University of Paraná (UFPR), Biological Science Sector, Anexo I, Centro Politécnico, Jardim das Américas, Curitiba, Paraná 81531-980, Brazil

^b Laboratory of Pharmacology and Pre-clinical Toxicology of Natural Products, Federal University of Pernambuco, Av. Professor Morais Rego, 1235, Recife, Pernambuco 50670-901, Brazil

^c Department of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Paraná, Agrarian Sciences Sector, Rua dos Funcionários, 1540, Curitiba, Paraná 80035-050, Brazil

Cannabinoids have been indicated for the treatment of glaucoma in humans. However, pharmacological studies in other species are lacking. Healthy Beagle dogs were treated with 0.1% cannabinoid eyedrops for 3 or 7 days. Intraocular pressure (IOP) and pupillary diameter (PD) were measured. To evaluate whether the topical cannabinoid formulation affects the motor and central nervous systems, a parallel study was performed. Male Swiss mice received ocular or intraperitoneal (i.p.) cannabinoid solution for 1 day (acute) or 7 days (subacute) and were tested in the open field (OF), elevated plus maze (EPM), open field habituation test (HT), and marble burying test (MBT). The treated dogs exhibited a significant reduction of IOP and PD. Acute i.p. cannabinoid administration reduced locomotion in mice in the OF and increased the number of entries into the open arms of the EPM. Subacute ocular cannabinoid administration increased the time spent on the closed arms and reduced the time spent on the open arms of the EPM. The cannabinoid i.p. and ocular did not exert anxiogenic effects in the MBT. These results indicate that the cannabinoid reduced IOP when used topically, and psychotropic effects occurred only with systemic administration.

Keywords: Intraocular pressure; Glaucoma; Cannabinoid; Dogs; Mice; Canasol

Received: November 18, 2014; Revised: April 29, 2015; Accepted: April 30, 2015; Published: February 1, 2016  Show citation