A Systematic Review of the Complex Effects of Cannabinoids on Cerebral and Peripheral Circulation in Animal Models

Richter, J. S. and Quenardelle, V. and Rouyer, O. and Raul, J. S. and Beaujeux, R. and Gény, B. and Wolff, V.

Front Physiol (2018) 9: 622

DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2018.00622

Abstract

While cannabis is perceived as a relatively safe drug by the public, accumulating clinical data suggest detrimental cardiovascular effects of cannabinoids. Cannabis has been legalized in several countries and jurisdictions recently. Experimental studies specifically targeting cannabinoids’ effects on the cerebral vasculature are rare. There is evidence for transient vasoconstrictive effects of cannabinoids in the peripheral and cerebral vasculature in a complex interplay of vasodilation and vasoconstriction. Vasoreactivity to cannabinoids is dependent on the specific molecules, their metabolites and dose, baseline vascular tone, and vessel characteristics as well as experimental conditions and animal species. We systematically review the currently available literature of experimental results in in vivo and in vitro animal studies, examining cannabinoids’ effects on circulation and reactive vasodilation or vasoconstriction, with a particular focus on the cerebral vascular bed.

Citation

Richter, J. S., Quenardelle, V., Rouyer, O., Raul, J. S., Beaujeux, R., Gény, B., & Wolff, V. (2018). A Systematic Review of the Complex Effects of Cannabinoids on Cerebral and Peripheral Circulation in Animal Models. Front Physiol, 9, 622. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2018.00622 stroke, animal models, cannabinoids, cannabis, cerebral vasospasm, vasoconstriction, vasoreactivity

Keywords

• stroke
• animal models
• cannabinoids
• cannabis
• cerebral vasospasm
• vasoconstriction
• vasoreactivity