Effects of Cannabis sativa on the Neuromuscular System and Cognitive Behavior of Male Wistar Rats

*Zitte Leelee Famii and Agusimba Ogechi

Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Corresponding Author: +234-803-7971-401, leelee.zitte@uniport.edu.ng; lefzy@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

This research investigates the influence of Cannabis sativa on the neuromuscular system and cognitive behavior of male Wistar rats. Twenty rats were randomly allocated into five groups, with Group 5 serving as the control and Groups 1 to 4 receiving oral doses of Cannabis sativa at concentrations of 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg, and 800 mg/kg, respectively. The study employs various behavioral tests, including the Beam Walking Test, Morris Water Maze, Tail Suspension Test, Open-Field Test, and Hand Grip Test, to assess the effects of Cannabis on Wistar rats. Results from the Beam walking Test suggest that the control group (Group 5) demonstrated the best neuromuscular performance, with Group 3, (receiving 400 mg/kg), following closely. In the Morris Water Maze, Groups 1 and 5 exhibited superior results, while higher doses had a negative impact. Tail Suspension Test outcomes revealed that Group 5 displayed non-depressive behavior, while Group 4 exhibited signs of depression. The Hand Grip Test demonstrated longer duration for Groups 2 and 4, suggesting a positive impact on muscle strength compared to the control, on Open Field Test, Group 1 spent the most of the time at the center, indicating lower anxiety, whereas other groups displayed increased anxiety with higher Cannabis doses. The study highlights complex and dose-dependent effects of Cannabis on neuromuscular and cognitive parameters. Caution is advised in interpreting these findings, and further research is recommended to elucidate underlying mechanisms and explore a broader range of doses.

Keywords: Cannabis sativa, cognitive function neuromuscular function

CITE AS: Zitte Leelee Famii and Agusimba Ogechi (2024). Effects of Cannabis sativa on the Neuromuscular System and Cognitive Behavior of Male Wistar Rats. Research Output Journal of Public Health and Medicine 3(2):51-58. https://doi.org/10.59298/ROJPHM/2024/325158