What question did this study set out to answer?

The study aims to investigate if cannabidiol can alleviate heat dissipation issues caused by ovariectomy in a rat model of menopause.

April 22, 2026Open Access

Cannabidiol Prevents Ovariectomy-Induced Thermoregulatory Dysfunction in Rats: A Preclinical Study on Menopausal Vasomotor Symptoms

Key Points

The study aims to investigate if cannabidiol can alleviate heat dissipation issues caused by ovariectomy in a rat model of menopause.
Female Wistar rats were divided into sham-operated and ovariectomized groups, with one receiving cannabidiol treatment.
Thermoregulatory function was assessed using infrared thermography and indirect calorimetry.
Uterine weight was measured to evaluate estrogen depletion.
Ovariectomy caused a significant increase in tail temperature compared to sham-operated controls.
Cannabidiol treatment effectively normalized tail temperature to levels seen in sham-operated rats.
No significant changes in uterine weight or energy metabolism were observed across groups.

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Vasomotor symptoms (hot flashes) affect 70–80% of menopausal women, significantly impairing quality of life. Current treatments include hormone therapy, which is contraindicated for many patients, and non-hormonal alternatives with limited efficacy or adverse effects. Cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive phytocannabinoid, has emerged as a potential therapeutic candidate due to its interaction with the endocannabinoid system. This study aimed to investigate whether a standardized Cannabis sativa extract containing isolated CBD attenuates heat dissipation in ovariectomized rats, a preclinical model of estrogen deficiency. Methods: Female Wistar rats were randomly assigned to sham-operated vehicle-treated (SHAM-V), ovariectomized vehicle-treated (OVX-V), or ovariectomized CBD-treated (OVX-CBD; 10 mg/kg/day, oral gavage) groups. Treatment began on postoperative day 2 and continued for 21 days. Tail-skin temperature, a surrogate marker of heat dissipation, was assessed by infrared thermography on day 14. Energy metabolism was evaluated by indirect calorimetry on day 21. Uterine weight was measured as a biomarker of estrogen depletion. Results: Ovariectomy significantly increased tail temperature compared to SHAM-V. CBD treatment completely prevented this effect, with OVX-CBD animals exhibiting thermographic profiles similar to SHAM-V. Uterine atrophy was not reversed by CBD. No differences in the calorimetry parameter were observed among groups. Conclusions: This study provides novel preclinical evidence that cannabidiol attenuates ovariectomy-induced heat dissipation in rats, without detectable effects on uterine weight or metabolic parameters. These findings suggest that CBD may represent a potential non-hormonal approach for the management of menopausal vasomotor symptoms; however, further studies are required to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and to determine its translational and clinical relevance.

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