New Ethological and Morphological Perspectives for the Investigation of Panicolytic-Like Effects of Cannabidiol

Abstract Neuropsychobiologists are interested in new ethological approaches for the study of drugs with putative behavioral effects. We discuss the viability of a new ethological model of panic attacks based on the interactions between small rodents and snakes, in polygonal arenas and complex labyrinths. The putative antiaversive effect of cannabidiol (CBD) was studied in rodents confronted with snakes. Dorsal midbrain (DM) structures are reciprocally interconnected with the ventral midbrain (VM), and organized innate fear-induced behaviors. The reticulate division of the substantia nigra receives γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic inputs from the neostriatum, and sends GABAergic inputs to the DM. The antipanic-like effects of the peripheral treatment with CBD seem to recruit 5-HT 1A serotonergic receptors. However, the panicolytic effect of CBD, microinjected in the VM, depends on CB1-cannabinoid receptor activation. The neostriatum-nigro-tectal GABAergic pathways are putative neural targets for the antipanic-like effect of CBD.