Edible cannabinoids impact meal structure and food impulsivity in female rats

Abstract

Cannabinoid receptor agonists increase eating in a dose-dependent manner. However, the behavioral mechanisms by which cannabinoids modulate food intake control aren’t clear, particularly in females. We utilized a rodent model of cannabinoid administration modeling a common route of cannabinoid consumption in humans: edibles. Herein, we administered the dual cannabinoid receptor agonist CP55940 in edible form to female rats and observed acute increases in standard chow intake due to an increase in meal size with no change in meal number. We further observed that the hyperphagic dose of edible CP55940 increases impulsive responding for sucrose, but this did not coincide with changes in motivation for sucrose. Finally, cannabinoids can affect anxiety-like behavior, but the acutely hyperphagic dose used in our studies had no effect on anxiety-like behavior. We conclude that edible cannabinoid administration delays satiation and increases impulsive eating behavior without impacting food motivation, potentially by reducing inhibitory control.