According to a new study that used an animal model, cannabidiol (CBD) may help regulate sleep disorders caused by general anesthesia.
For the study, researchers implanted cortical EEG electrodes in 24 male rats and divided them into four groups: control, propofol, CBD treatment, and diazepam treatment. Following anesthesia with propofol, the rats received daily treatment with either CBD, diazepam, or saline. EEG, EMG, and body temperature data were collected wirelessly over a 72-hour period, and blood and hypothalamic tissue samples were analyzed to evaluate oxidative stress markers and circadian clock protein expression.
The study found that rats treated with CBD had significantly increased nighttime sleep, particularly between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m., compared to control rats. In rats exposed to propofol alone, sleep-wake patterns were disrupted, with longer slow-wave sleep (SWS) and increased transitions between sleep and wakefulness during the evening hours. CBD treatment reduced excessive SWS duration and stabilized nighttime sleep-wake transitions, particularly from midnight to early morning. Diazepam produced a similar but weaker effect.
Additionally, CBD effectively reversed changes in protein expression and oxidative stress levels triggered by propofol.
Researchers conclude by stating:
CBD can improve sleep structure and circadian rhythm in rats with propofol-induced sleep disorder possibly by regulating hypothalamic expressions of the key circadian clock proteins, suggesting a new treatment option for perioperative sleep disorders.
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