POT-LIKE DRUG LOWERS DEPRESSION IN RATS

Study Could Point Way To Developing A New Type Of Antidepressant

SASKATOON -- A University of Saskatchewan team has shown a marijuana-like
drug reduces the symptoms of anxiety and depression in rats.

Using injections of a synthesized substance called HU210, which mimics one
of the active ingredients in cannabis, associate professor of psychiatry
Dr. Xia Zhang and his colleagues showed new growth of brain cells increased
in rats. Other recent studies have linked that growth, or so-called
neurogenesis, to a reduction in anxiety and depression.

The results were published Thursday on the website of the Journal of
Clinical Investigation.

"The implication of this paper is that smoking marijuana is a good thing,"
Zhang said with a hearty laugh in his Saskatoon office.

Well, good for rats anyway.

"We hypothesize cannabis or marijuana can produce a similar effect," Zhang
added.

The group, including researchers at Xijing Hospital in China and at the
University of Maryland in Baltimore, have yet to test the effect of
marijuana itself on rats' neurogenesis, Zhang said. He also cautions
against the assumption the drug will have the same effect on humans.

"There is a big gap between rats and humans," Zhang said.

"Realistically, we cannot judge these results from rats and apply them to a
human situation. There's a huge difference. Our results can give [only]
some indication or implication."

Although previous studies have shown alcohol, nicotine, opiates and cocaine
reduce the growth of new brain cells, Zhang's paper is the first to show
marijuana could have the opposite effect.

Because rats can't say how depressed they are, researchers used other tests
to indicate the strength of their survival instinct.

What's more exciting to researchers than the potential connection between
smoking pot and easing lethargy and frayed nerves is the possibility a
component of marijuana could be the next blockbuster antidepressant.