A Review on the Bioactivity of Cannabinoids on Zebrafish Models: Emphasis on Neurodevelopment

Abstract

For centuries, the cannabis plant has been used as a source of food, fiber, and medicine. Recently, scientific interest in cannabis has increased considerably, as its bioactive compounds have shown promising potential in the treatment of numerous musculoskeletal and neurological diseases in humans. However, the mechanisms that underlie its possible effects on neurodevelopment and nervous-system functioning remain poorly understood and need to be further investigated. Although the bulk of research on cannabis and cannabinoids is based on in vitro or rodent models, the zebrafish has now emerged as a powerful in vivo model for drug-screening studies and translational research. We here review the available literature on the use of cannabis/cannabinoids in zebrafish, and particularly in zebrafish models of neurological disorders. A critical analysis suggests that zebrafish could serve as an experimental tool for testing the bioactivity of cannabinoids, and they could thus provide important insights into the safety and efficacy of different cannabis-extract-based products. The review showed that zebrafish exhibit similar behaviors to rodents following cannabinoid exposure. The authors stress the importance of analyzing the full spectrum of naturally occurring cannabinoids, rather than just the main ones, THC and CBD, and they offer some pointers on performing behavioral analysis in zebrafish.

Dose Dependent Effects of Two Polymeric Materials and Similarities With Certain Drugs

“…In the case of polypropylene, the effects were similar to those of psychoactive drugs, such as 3,4methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) for certain doses, but also with Cannabidiol (CBD) and Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main cannabinoids in the Cannabis plant. THC is considered the psychoactive component, while CBD has no psychotropic activity, but has been reported to reduce epileptic seizures and modify anxiety-like behavior (Jensen et al, 2018;Licitra et al, 2022).…”

Special Issue: Therapeutic Potential for Cannabis and Cannabinoids

“…Licitra and colleagues performed a systematic review of the literature on cannabinoids in zebrafish [ 23 ]. The authors find that in many ways zebrafish respond similarly to rodents following cannabinoid exposure, and may serve as another useful model for studying the effects of cannabinoids in disease and on humans.…”

Danio rerio: A Sustainable Model for Monitoring Pollutants in Aquatic Environments

“…Zebrafish embryo test Crude oil component [25] Danio rerio long-term exposure Metformin [26] Zebrafish antagonistic test Deltamethrin [27] Adult zebrafish behavioral test Cannabinoids [28] Early life stage zebrafish assay Sediment [29] Acute-Chronic test Lead [30] Early life stage zebrafish assay Sodium Hypochloride [31] Combined toxicity test Agrochemicals [32] Adult zebrafish behavioral test Triclosan [33]…”