Grant: Master's Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships

The primary objective of this research is to examine the viability of treating epileptic seizures using phytocannabinoids. To accomplish this, a variety of phytocannabinoids including cannabidiol (CBD), cannabinol (CBN), and cannabichromene (CBC) are applied to zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae, which are then exposed to the convulsant agent pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) to induce epileptic seizures. As it is unclear which of the many potential receptors transduce these anti-convulsant effects, zebrafish larvae are also exposed to a pretreatment of endocannabinoid receptor inhibitors to see how receptor inhibition effects their ability to reduce seizures, measured via live video tracking. As well, uptake of phytocannabinoids into treated samples is examined using high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) to verify treatment efficacy. Function of endocannabinoid ligands AEA and 2-AG, which are theorized to have an effect on epileptic response, is examined by comparing baseline ligand concentrations during seizing to baseline levels with and without phytocannabinoid treatment, and in CRISPR mutants where genes for the synthesis or breakdown of endocannabinoid ligands are mutated. This will examine how the endocannabinoid system functions with regards to metabolite transfer and breakdown during seizures to see how changes to these concentrations influence neuroprotective function. Concentrations will be obtained using HPLC treatment, similarly to phytocannabinoid uptake analysis.