Faisal Sadar

Introduction: Osteoporosis is a debilitating bone disease that affects a large segment of the population. Currently, pharmacological treatment options for osteoporosis, including antiresorptive drugs and those that prevent bone loss, are limited. Multiple studies have shown that the endocannabinoid system and cannabis may play a significant role in bone remodeling. As both the use of cannabis and high-quality research on its effects continue to grow, novel medicinal uses of selected components, such as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), are being investigated. The present study examined the potential effect of chronic THC inhalation during early adulthood on an ovariectomized rodent model of post-menopausal osteoporosis. Materials and Methods: Young (26-week-old) adult female rats received daily either THC or air inhalation for 8 weeks. The rats then underwent an ovariectomy (OVX) or sham surgery (Sx) when they were 34 weeks old. They were then euthanized 4 weeks post-OVX, and skeletal tissues were collected for analysis. Results: MicroCT analysis of femora showed that THC + OVX rats showed a significant decrease (45%) in trabecular bone volume compared to Air + Sham Sx rats. As expected, the Air + OVX rats also showed a 17% reduction in trabecular bone volume. Discussion: Overall, early adulthood THC exposure increased susceptibility to osteoporosis following ovariectomy-induced menopause. This suggests that THC exerts long-lasting effects on bone health, which may exacerbate post-menopausal bone loss.

Background: Osteoporosis, a debilitating bone disease characterized by low bone mineral density, poses a large burden on the population. Current pharmacological treatment options are limited, with antiresorptive drugs being the current first-line option. Recent research has shown that the endocannabinoid system, modulated by endocannabinoids and phytocannabinoids, may influence bone remodeling. As the prevalence of cannabis use and research into its medicinal potential continues to increase, its therapeutic potential has emerged. Objective: To investigate the role of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) inhalation in treating osteoporosis in a rodent model. Methods: Adult female Sprague–Dawley rats underwent ovariectomy (OVX) to induce osteoporosis. Four weeks post-OVX, rats received either THC or Air treatment via inhalation for 8 weeks. A control group of age-matched rats received sham surgery. Rats were then euthanized at 38 weeks old, and hindlimb samples were collected for caliper, microCT, and biomechanical analyses. Results: OVX Air-treated rats showed significantly decreased trabecular bone volume, trabecular bone volume fraction, trabecular separation, trabecular tissue mineral density, trabecular number, and connective density compared to sham surgery controls. Compared with Air controls, OVX rats treated with THC showed increased endosteal volume (20%; p < 0.05). THC-treated rats also showed decreased trabecular bone mineral density (2%; p < 0.005) and trabecular thickness (14%; p < 0.05). Conclusions: Chronic inhaled THC worsened key aspects of trabecular bone microarchitecture. Results do not support use of THC vapor as a therapeutic agent for osteoporosis and suggest THC may adversely affect bone quality in estrogen-deficient states. Further research is needed to evaluate dose-dependent effects and to distinguish the skeletal impacts of different cannabinoid components.