Administration of the Synthetic Cannabinoid WIN55,212-2 Increases BDNF Expression Levels in the Adolescent Rat Brain.
Cannabis and cannabinoid research February 1, 2026 Alejandro Guadalupe Torres, Jordan Santos, Dolores Vazquez Sanroman
Chronic administration of the synthetic cannabinoid WIN55,212-2 during adolescence alters levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in specific brain regions of male adolescent rats. WIN55,212-2 increased pro-BDNF in the cerebellar vermis and mature BDNF in the medial prefrontal cortex, suggesting potential effects on synaptic plasticity and neurodevelopment. The study used male Sprague-Dawley rats given injections of WIN (0.8 mg/kg) or saline every 48 hours from postnatal day 30 to 37, with tissue collected one hour after the final injection.