Date of Award

Spring 6-2026

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department/Program

Forensic Science

Language

English

First Advisor or Mentor

Shu-Yuan Cheng

Second Reader

Richard Stripp

Third Advisor

Aliya Lewis

Abstract

The widespread use of cannabis and the increasing prevalence of synthetic cannabinoids have raised significant concerns regarding their effects on the central nervous system at the cellular level. Cannabinoids exert their effects primarily through activation of the cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1), a G-protein-coupled receptor involved in regulating intracellular signaling pathways, including calcium regulation. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of THC, CBD, AB-CHMINACA and AB-FUBINACA on intracellular calcium signaling in human astrocyte cells using a Fura-2 AM calcium flux assay. Human astrocyte cells (CCF-STTG1) were exposed to varying cannabinoid concentrations in the presence and absence of the CB1 receptor antagonist Rimonabant. Intracellular calcium activity was measured using 340/380 fluorescence ratios collected with a BioTek Cytation 7 plate reader. Overall, cannabinoid exposure produced measurable changes in intracellular calcium signaling, although response patterns varied between compounds. THC produced moderate calcium responses consistent with its role as a partial CB1 receptor agonist, while CBD demonstrated relatively stable signaling patterns that may reflect indirect modulation of intracellular pathways. In contrast, the synthetic cannabinoids demonstrated more distinct calcium signaling responses that may be associated with their increased potency and stronger receptor activity. These findings contribute to the understanding of cannabinoid-induced astrocyte signaling and the potential neurotoxicological effects associated with synthetic cannabinoid exposure.

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