Long-term cannabidiol treatment did not restore bone microstructural defects in skeletally mature ovariectomized Sprague-Dawley rats
Issued Date
2026-02-01
Resource Type
eISSN
24734039
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-105028577593
Journal Title
Jbmr Plus
Volume
10
Issue
2
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Jbmr Plus Vol.10 No.2 (2026)
Suggested Citation
Chanpaisaeng K., Fleet J.C., Rawiwet V., Phonsatta N., Panya A., Panupinthu N., Charoenphandhu N. Long-term cannabidiol treatment did not restore bone microstructural defects in skeletally mature ovariectomized Sprague-Dawley rats. Jbmr Plus Vol.10 No.2 (2026). doi:10.1093/jbmrpl/ziaf197 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/114707
Title
Long-term cannabidiol treatment did not restore bone microstructural defects in skeletally mature ovariectomized Sprague-Dawley rats
Corresponding Author(s)
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Cannabidiol (CBD) effects on bone metabolism in postmenopausal osteoporosis remain unclear. While endocannabinoids and phytocannabinoids bind to receptors in bone cells, direct evidence of CBD’s bone-protective effects is lacking. We evaluated the effects of CBD on bone metabolism in ovariectomized (OVX) rat model of estrogen deficiency. Twelve-week study with treatment initiated 2 wk after the surgery was conducted. Five experimental groups were established: sham-operated with vehicle (SHM/VEH), sham with CBD (SHM/CBD5), OVX with vehicle (OVX/VEH), OVX with 17β-estradiol (OVX/E2), and OVX with CBD (OVX/CBD5). Cannabidiol was administered at 5 mg/kg/d via osmotic pumps. Micro-CT of the distal femur revealed that trabecular bone mass in OVX/CBD5 decreased similarly to OVX/VEH, indicating no protective effect. Serum bone turnover markers showed increased bone resorption in OVX/CBD5 compared to OVX/VEH. Gene expression analysis revealed that estrogen significantly reduced Ctsk gene expression compared to OVX/VEH, while CBD showed no significant differences. No significant changes were observed in cannabinoid receptor expression or bone metabolism in sham-operated rats receiving CBD. While CBD (5 mg/kg/d) was welltolerated, it did not mitigate OVX-induced bone loss in skeletally mature rats. Consequently, CBD should not be considered a monotherapy for postmenopausal osteoporosis, though it appears safe for other potential medical applications.