Zebrafish larvae absorbed THC and CBD differently and showed distinct behavioral responses to each

Zebrafish larvae were exposed to various concentrations of THC, CBD, or combinations of both. Uptake kinetics were measured over time to track absorption rates. Behavioral pattern analysis was used to measure locomotor responses. Metabolites were identified and compared to known mammalian THC and CBD metabolites.

Testing individual cannabinoids and their combinations in mammals is slow and expensive. Zebrafish larvae offer a rapid screening model that, as this study demonstrates, metabolizes cannabinoids similarly to mammals. This could accelerate research on how different cannabis strains and cannabinoid ratios produce different effects.

Cannabis plants contain dozens of cannabinoids in varying ratios, and understanding how these compounds interact is a major challenge. This study establishes a high-throughput model for systematically testing cannabinoid combinations, which could help explain why different cannabis strains produce such different effects despite containing the same major compounds.

Zebrafish are not mammals, and despite similar metabolites, the pharmacological responses may differ in important ways. The behavioral readout in larvae is limited to locomotion and does not capture complex behaviors or subjective states. The concentrations used may not reflect human exposure levels. This is a proof-of-concept study rather than a direct guide to human pharmacology.