Assessing the effects of CBD extract on the heart and the body axis in Xenopus laevis embryos
Board Location: #24
Discipline: Biological Sciences
Subcategory: Genetics
Session: 4
Kayla Galbreath - Alabama State University
Co-Author(s): Kayla Galbreath1,2, Joseph Ayariga1,3, Olufemi Ajayi3, and Emmanuel Tadjuidje1,2 1) Center for Nanobiotechnology and Research, Alabama State University, Montgomery, AL, 36104, USA 2) Department of Biological Sciences, Alabama State University, Montgomery, AL, 36104, USA 3) Industrial Hemp & Specialty Crops Program, Alabama State University, Montgomery, AL, 36104, USA
Cannabis, derived from the Cannabis sativa plant, has been used for centuries for its medicinal properties attributed to its cannabinoids content, of which two major ones are tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) known for its psychoactive effects, and cannabidiol (CBD) noted for its therapeutic benefits. In recent years, many countries have lifted the prohibition on cannabis use owing to various reports of its therapeutic benefits. The FDA has approved CBD for the treatment of severe seizures, and Cannabis has shown effectiveness in helping manage other diseases. As access to CBD increases and expecting mothers are among the users, it is crucial to understand its potential developmental in a vertebrate model organism. The African clawed frog Xenopus laevis is notable as a vertebral model organism due to its similarity to higher vertebrates and mammals in terms of physiology, gene expression and organ development. Its life cycle allows experimental studies throughout development, making it ideal for studying the developmental effects of external factors. In this study, we have tested the developmental outcome of CBD exposure to Xenopus laevis. Embryos were treated with CBD extract (3.125 – 50 µg/ml) from the blastula stage to the tadpole stage. Our data show that CBD treatment affects the shape of the heart, the heart rate, and the body length. Our current effort is to perform detailed quantitative analysis on the heart rate and body length and analyze the expression of marker genes for heart development and body axis elongation.
Funder Acknowledgement(s): NSF-HBCU-UP program
Faculty Advisor: Emmanuel Tadjuidje, etadjuidje@alasu.edu
Role: I wrote the abstract based on existing preliminary data. I worked on the experiment in the lab, as well a created the poster.