Investigating Pannexin1a-Mediated Mechanisms Of Pain And Neuroinflammation Using Zebrafish

This thesis explores the role of Panx1a in modulating pain and neuroinflammatory responses in zebrafish (Danio rerio). Nociception was induced using acetic acid (AA) treatments. Behavioral assays conducted on Panx1a knockout (KO) zebrafish larvae demonstrate significant alterations in response to acetic acid (AA)-induced pain. Pharmacological interventions using probenecid, a Panx1 inhibitor, and ibuprofen, a cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitor, reveal their potential in modulating pain behaviors and rescuing nociceptive deficits. Furthermore, molecular analyses employing quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) elucidate the regulatory impact of Panx1a on gene expression related to nociception, neuroinflammation, and synaptic plasticity. In summary, this thesis provides evidence of Panx1a's involvement in pain and neuroinflammation, proposing zebrafish as a viable model for studying nociception.