Effects of non-euphoric plant cannabinoids on muscle quality and performance of dystrophic mdx mice.
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), caused by dystrophin deficiency, results in chronic inflammation and irreversible skeletal muscle degeneration. Moreover, the associated impairment of autophagy greatly contributes to the aggravation of muscle damage. We explored the possibility of using non-euphoric compounds present in Cannabis sativa, cannabidiol (CBD), cannabidivarin (CBDV) and tetrahydrocannabidivarin (THCV), to reduce inflammation, restore functional autophagy and positively enhance muscle function in vivo. Using quantitative PCR, western blots and Ca CBD and CBDV promoted the differentiation of murine C2C12 myoblast cells into myotubes by increasing Ca We provide new insights into plant cannabinoid interactions with TRP channels in skeletal muscle, highlighting a potential opportunity for novel co-adjuvant therapies to prevent muscle degeneration in DMD patients. This article is part of a themed section on 8