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BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To determine the minimally effective dose of cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) that effectively reduces lithium chloride (LiCl)-induced conditioned gaping reactions (nausea-induced behaviour) in rats and to determine if these low systemic doses of CBDA (5-0.1 [mu]g[middle dot]kg-1) relative to those of CBD could potentiate the anti-nausea effects of the classic 5-hydroxytryptamine 3 (5-HT3) receptor antagonist, ondansetron (OND).

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: We investigated the efficacy of low doses of CBDA to suppress acute nausea, assessed by the establishment of conditioned gaping to a LiCl-paired flavour in rats. The potential of threshold and subthreshold doses of CBDA to enhance the reduction of nausea-induced conditioned gaping by OND were then determined.

KEY RESULTS: CBDA (at doses as low as 0.5 [mu]g[middle dot]kg-1) suppressed nausea-induced conditioned gaping to a flavour. A low dose of OND (1.0 [mu]g[middle dot]kg-1) alone reduced nausea-induced conditioned gaping, but when it was combined with a subthreshold dose of CBDA (0.1 [mu]g[middle dot]kg-1) there was an enhancement in the suppression of LiCl-induced conditioned gaping.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: CBDA potently reduced conditioned gaping in rats, even at low doses and enhanced the anti-nausea effect of a low dose of OND. These findings suggest that combining low doses of CBDA and OND will more effectively treat acute nausea in chemotherapy patients.

Copyright (C) 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.