scholarly journals The endocannabinoid system in modulating fear, anxiety, and stress

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 229-239
Keyword(s):  
Emotional Disorders ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Emotional Responses ◽  
Endocannabinoid System ◽  
Brain Structures ◽  
Therapeutic Implications ◽  
Cortical Areas ◽  
Prefrontal Cortical ◽  
Pathophysiological Role

The endocannabinoid system is widely expressed in the limbic system, prefrontal cortical areas, and brain structures regulating neuroendocrine stress responses, which explains the key role of this system in the control of emotions. In this review, we update recent advances on the function of the endocannabinoid system in determining the value of fear-evoking stimuli and promoting appropriate behavioral responses for stress resilience. We also review the alterations in the activity of the endocannabinoid system during fear, stress, and anxiety, and the pathophysiological role of each component of this system in the control of these protective emotional responses that also trigger pathological emotional disorders. In spite of all the evidence, we have not yet taken advantage of the therapeutic implications of this important role of the endocannabinoid system, and possible future strategies to improve the treatment of these emotional disorders are discussed.

scholarly journals Pathophysiological role of oxidative stress in systolic and diastolic heart failure and its therapeutic implications

2015 ◽  
Vol 36 (38) ◽  
pp. 2555-2564 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Münzel ◽  
Tommaso Gori ◽  
John F. Keaney ◽  
Christoph Maack ◽  
Andreas Daiber
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Heart Failure ◽  
Diastolic Heart Failure ◽  
Therapeutic Implications ◽  
Pathophysiological Role

Endocannabinoid system in trauma and psychosis: distant guardian of mental stability

2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomasz Bielawski ◽  
Lucas Albrechet-Souza ◽  
Dorota Frydecka
Keyword(s):  
Endocannabinoid System ◽  
Brain Structures ◽  
Mental States ◽  
Self Medication ◽  
Extinction Learning ◽  
Environmental Pressures ◽  
Traumatic Life Events ◽  
Psychiatric Conditions ◽  
Pituitary Adrenal Axis

Abstract Central endocannabinoid system (eCBS) is a neuromodulatory system that inhibits potentially harmful, excessive synaptic activation. Endocannabinoid receptors are abundant among brain structures pivotal in different mental disorders development (for example, hippocampus, amygdala, medial-prefrontal cortex, hypothalamus). Here, we review eCBS function in etiology of psychosis, emphasizing its role in dealing with environmental pressures such as traumatic life events. Moreover, we explore eCBS as a guard against hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis over-activation, and discuss its possible role in etiology of different psychopathologies. Additionally, we review eCBS function in creating adaptive behavioral patterns, as we explore its involvement in the memory formation process, extinction learning and emotional response. We discuss eCBS in the context of possible biomarkers of trauma, and in preclinical psychiatric conditions, such as at-risk mental states and clinical high risk states for psychosis. Finally, we describe the role of eCBS in the cannabinoid self-medication-theory and extinction learning.

scholarly journals Endocannabinoid System and Synaptic Plasticity: Implications for Emotional Responses

2007 ◽  
Vol 2007 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
María-Paz Viveros ◽  
Eva-María Marco ◽  
Ricardo Llorente ◽  
Meritxell López-Gallardo
Keyword(s):  
Synaptic Plasticity ◽  
Emotional Responses ◽  
Endocannabinoid System ◽  
Brain Structures ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
In Vitro Models ◽  
Emotional Behavior ◽  
Cb1 Receptors ◽  
Emotional States

The endocannabinoid system has been involved in the regulation of anxiety, and proposed as an inhibitory modulator of neuronal, behavioral and adrenocortical responses to stressful stimuli. Brain regions such as the amygdala, hippocampus and cortex, which are directly involved in the regulation of emotional behavior, contain high densities of cannabinoid CB1 receptors. Mutant mice lacking CB1 receptors show anxiogenic and depressive-like behaviors as well as an altered hypothalamus pituitary adrenal axis activity, whereas enhancement of endocannabinoid signaling produces anxiolytic and antidepressant-like effects. Genetic and pharmacological approaches also support an involvement of endocannabinoids in extinction of aversive memories. Thus, the endocannabinoid system appears to play a pivotal role in the regulation of emotional states. Endocannabinoids have emerged as mediators of short- and long- term synaptic plasticity in diverse brain structures. Despite the fact that most of the studies on this field have been performed using in vitro models, endocannabinoid-mediated plasticity might be considered as a plausible candidate underlying some of the diverse physiological functions of the endogenous cannabinoid system, including developmental, affective and cognitive processes. In this paper, we will focus on the functional relevance of endocannabinoid-mediated plasticity within the framework of emotional responses. Alterations of the endocannabinoid system may constitute an important factor in the aetiology of certain neuropsychiatric disorders, and, in turn, enhancers of endocannabinoid signaling could represent a potential therapeutical tool in the treatment of both anxiety and depressive symptoms.

scholarly journals The Role of Endocannabinoid System in Sleep Deprivation-Induced Psychosis-Like Symptoms through Hampering Prepulse Inhibition; A Hypothesis

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Nami ◽  
Ali-Mohammad Kamali ◽  
Milad Kazemiha ◽  
Rao kosagisharaf ◽  
Sabri Derman
Keyword(s):  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Sleep Deprivation ◽  
Prepulse Inhibition ◽  
Drug Targets ◽  
Cannabinoid Receptors ◽  
Endocannabinoid System ◽  
Brain Structures ◽  
Chemical Dynamics

The interaction between endocannabinoid (eCB) system with in key brain structures such as hippocampus, amygdala and prefrontal cortex and sleep deprivation (SD)-induced psychosis has been less studied. The present hypothesis revolves around the question whether altered chemical dynamics within the eCB system with the resultant impact on cannabinoid receptors in key cortical hubs would impact SD-induced psychosis-like symptoms. Having this investigated research is expected to pave the path towards identifying newer drug targets namely for schizophrenia.

scholarly journals The possible role of oxytocin in neuropsychiatric disorders

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 274-278
Author(s):  
Donatella Marazziti ◽  
Alessandra Della Vecchia
Keyword(s):  
Stress Responses ◽  
Peptide Hormone ◽  
Neuropsychiatric Disorders ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Social Signals ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Therapeutic Implications ◽  
Compulsive Disorder

Oxytocin (OT) is a peptide hormone unique to mammals, typically involved in activities characteristic of this vertebrate class, such as labour and lactation. Evidence suggests a role of OT even in most complex activities, including child attachment, maternal care, couple bonding, emotional and social behaviors. Furthermore, it seems to contribute to the modulation of stress responses, learning, and memory processes, as well as to the connection of social signals with cognition, behaviors and reward. For this reason, for years there has been a debate on the possible contribution of the OT system in the pathophysiology of different neuropsychiatric disorders, including autism spectrum disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, eating disorders, addiction, and schizophrenia. In this article, we describe the most relevant findings on OT system abnormalities in the aforementioned disorders, with a focus on possible therapeutic implications.

The role of serotoninergic brain structures in neurotensin influence mechanism on defensive behavior in rats

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. P. Shugalev ◽  
A. V. Stavrovskaja ◽  
S. Olshanskij ◽  
G. Hartmann ◽  
L. Lenard
Keyword(s):  
Defensive Behavior ◽  
Brain Structures ◽  
Influence Mechanism
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