Effects of cannabidiol (CBD) in an animal model of Alzheimer's disease induced by streptozotocin

• Grant number: 22/09866-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Master's degree
• Start date: January 30, 2023
• End date: July 29, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Pharmacology - Neuropsychopharmacology
• Principal Investigator: Alessandra Mussi Ribeiro
• Grantee: Gabrielle Christine Pereira
• Supervisor: Erika Gyengesi
• Host Institution: Instituto de Saúde e Sociedade (ISS). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus Baixada Santista. Santos , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Western Sydney University, Sydney, Australia
• Associated to the scholarship: 21/12409-7 - Investigation of the effects of cannabidiol (CBD) in an animal model of Alzheimer's Disease induced by streptozotocin, BP.MS

Abstract

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder and the most common cause of types of dementia in the elderly. Studies have pointed out as a possible mediator of neurodegeneration the early deficiency in brain glucose metabolism and insulin signaling pathway, resulting in oxidative stress processes, increase in the production of A² peptide and hyperphosphorylated tau protein, mitochondrial dysfunction, activation of molecules pro-inflammatory, activation of astrocytes and microglia, and apoptosis. Currently, one of the main challenges is the development of novel drugs that prevent the progression and/or the emergence of AD. In this context, bioactive compounds derived or isolated from plants may have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities with potential neuroprotective effects in neurodegenerative diseases. The aim of this study is to evaluate the potential neuroprotective effect of cannabidiol (CBD) in a pharmacological model of AD, induced by streptozotocin (STZ) in Wistar rats. Firstly, animals will receive an injection of STZ (3 mg/kg, via i.c.v.), after each rat will be treated with CBD (10 mg/kg, i.p.) or vehicle for 14 days. Sucrose preference tests, open field, olfactory sensitivity, spontaneous alternation, and new object recognition tasks will be performed throughout the treatment. At the end of the treatment, the brains will be collected to perform immunohistochemistry for A² and Tau and inflammatory cytokines (IL1 ² and IL-6) and dosages of oxidative stress parameters (lipid peroxidation and activity of the enzymes catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase) in the brain areas of the olfactory bulb, hippocampus, and cerebral cortex. (AU)