Cannabidiol improves haloperidol-induced motor dysfunction in zebrafish: a comparative study with a dopamine activating drug.

Background: Cannabidiol (CBD) extracted from the cannabis plant is believed to have a medicinal value due to its neuroprotective effect via anti-inflammatory and antioxidant action. Recent behavioral studies in rats have reported that CBD mediates serotonin (5-HT1A) receptor action to improve motor dysfunction induced by dopamine (D2) receptor blockade. In particular, its effect on D2 receptor blockade in the striatum is an important function associated with neurological disorders resulting from various extrapyramidal motor dysfunctions.

Influence of cardiac function on intermittent hypoxia in rats fed with high-fat diet.

A high-fat diet (HFD) accumulates fat in the cardiovascular system, alters the metabolism, and affects cardiac function. Dyslipidemia is associated with the development of sleep apnea syndrome (SAS), which is associated with intermittent hypoxia (IH); however, it is unclear whether SAS affects cardiac function in patients with dyslipidemia. The purpose of this study was to evaluate how IH affects cardiac function in rats fed with a HFD.

Additional betalain accumulation by genetic engineering leads to a novel flower color in lisianthus ().

Betalains, comprising violet betacyanins and yellow betaxanthins, are pigments found in plants belonging to the order Caryophyllales. In this study, we induced the accumulation of betalains in ornamental lisianthus () by genetic engineering. Three betalain biosynthetic genes encoding CYP76AD1, dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) 4,5-dioxygenase (DOD), and -DOPA 5--glucosyltransferase (5GT) were expressed under the control of the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) promoter in lisianthus, in which anthocyanin pigments are responsible for the pink flower color.

Standardized Method for the Assessment of Behavioral Responses of Zebrafish Larvae.

Zebrafish are easy to breed in a laboratory setting as they are extremely fertile and produce dozens of eggs per set. Because zebrafish eggs and the skin of the early-stage larvae are transparent, their embryos and the hearts and muscles of their larvae can be easily observed. Multiple rapid analyses of heart rate and behavior can be performed on these larvae simultaneously, enabling investigation of the influence of neuroactive substances on abnormal behavior, death, and associated pathogenetic mechanisms.

Analyzing cannabinoid-induced abnormal behavior in a zebrafish model.

In this study, we investigated locomotor activity and responses to repeated light and dark stimuli to assess cannabinoid-induced abnormal behavior in zebrafish larvae (Danio rerio), as an alternative to standard rodent models. To induce the desired responses, we used cannabidiol and WIN55,212-2, two major cannabinoid components. A repeated light and dark test was used to assess how drug exposure influences locomotory responses.