Muscular dystrophy in mice after chronic subcutaneous treatment with cannabinoids.

Swiss male albino mice were treated subcutaneously with the main cannabinoids (CBN, CBD, delta9-THC) at the dosage of 1 mg/kg per day for 30 days, and with the crude resin. At the end of the treatment, after supramaximal stimulation of the sciatic nerve, a significant decrease of both maximal twitch and tetanus tensions was observed in delta9-THC-treated animals; CBD and resin treatment produced some decrease in active tension, while CBN treatment induced an enhancement of the contractile strength. Histology showed lesions interpretable as due to muscular dystrophy. Analysis of protein and hydroxyproline muscular content showed a marked reduction in protein in all treated animals, with a corresponding high increase in hydroxyproline content.