Effect of Cannabidiol on Stress and Aversive Memory after Acute and Intense Stress in Zebrafish

• Grant number: 23/14200-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 01, 2024
• End date: February 28, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Animal Behavior
• Principal Investigator: Percilia Cardoso Giaquinto
• Grantee: Marco Antônio Sant' Ana Camargos
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IBB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Stress is a global problem that has a negative impact on health and well-being. Cannabidiol (CBD) is a natural compound that has been shown to have stress and inflammation antagonistic properties. This research project will investigate the effects of CBD on stress in zebrafish. Zebrafish are a promising animal model for studying stress. They are small, easy to handle and have a genome with great homology to humans. Previous studies have shown that stress can cause behavioral and physiological changes in zebrafish useful for translational studies. This research project will utilize a novel single-day stress model to assess the effects of CBD on stress and aversive memory in zebrafish. Fish will be exposed to a combined set of physical stressors in a single day, linked to a visual cue, which will be re-presented later in behavioral tests in order to evoke the aversive memory. The animals will be tested and monitored in one context without the CBD treatment and another with the treatment. The behavior and physiology of the fish (in the brain alone and in the rest of the body) will be evaluated after 7 days of testing. The results of this research project will provide valuable information on the effects of CBD on stress and memory in zebrafish. This information can be used to better understand the pathogenesis of stressful and traumatic disorders, particularly Post-Traumatic Syndrome.