Cannabinoids as Neuroprotective Molecules in Photoreceptors following Light-Induced Retinal Degeneration in Zebrafish Retina
Open Access
- Author:
- Proano, Renata
- Area of Honors:
- Biology
- Degree:
- Bachelor of Science
- Document Type:
- Thesis
- Thesis Supervisors:
- Salvatore Lucia Stella, Jr., Thesis Supervisor
Sairam V Rudrabhatla, Thesis Honors Advisor
Nik Tsotakos, Faculty Reader - Keywords:
- cannabinoids
hemp
CBD
THC
Zebrafish
retina
age related macular degenaration
biology
therapeutic
neuroprotective
anti-inflammatory
rods
cones
photoreceptor
retinal degeneration
light-induced retinal degeneration
CB-13
novel therapy
immunofluorescence
animals
tissue preparation
cryosectioning
oxidative stress
endocannabinoid
receptors
model organism - Abstract:
- This project implements a light-induced retinal degeneration model (LIRD) on pigmented zebrafish to measure the neuroprotective effects of cannabinoids on photoreceptor cells. The LIRD model recapitulates the retinal damage in age-related macular degeneration (AMD). While cannabinoids are highly regarded for their neuroprotective benefits in the central nervous system, little is known about their effects on the retina. CB-13, a synthetic mixed agonist for both cannabinoid receptors type 1 and type 2 in the nervous system (CB1 and CB2), was used to measure the neuroprotective effect of cannabinoids following LIRD. Adult zebrafish were dark-adapted for 24 hours and then exposed to constant high-intensity light for 96 hours. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed on vertical retinal sections to assess the damage. Our findings revealed that CB-13 prevented light-induced retinal degeneration of rod photoreceptors. This included preserving the outer segments, inner segments, and synaptic terminal structure of rods. However, at the dose tested, there was no difference observed among cones from retinas that were saline-treated and CB-13 treated after 96 hours. Taken together, this thesis demonstrates that stimulation of either CB1 or CB2 receptors by cannabinoids provides protection for rod photoreceptors from damage and provides evidence of a potential novel therapeutic target for the treatment of rod photoreceptor dystrophies. This study highlights the potential use of cannabinoids as a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of rod dystrophies.