scholarly journals Cannabinoids modulate associative cerebellar learning via alterations in behavioral state

eLife ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catarina Albergaria ◽  
N Tatiana Silva ◽  
Dana M Darmohray ◽  
Megan R Carey

Cannabinoids are notorious and profound modulators of behavioral state. In the brain, endocannabinoids act via Type 1-cannabinoid receptors (CB1) to modulate synaptic transmission and mediate multiple forms of synaptic plasticity. CB1 knockout (CB1KO) mice display a range of behavioral phenotypes, in particular hypoactivity and various deficits in learning and memory, including cerebellum-dependent delay eyeblink conditioning. Here we find that the apparent effects of CB1 deletion on cerebellar learning are not due to direct effects on CB1-dependent plasticity, but rather, arise as a secondary consequence of altered behavioral state. Hypoactivity of CB1KO mice accounts for their impaired eyeblink conditioning across both animals and trials. Moreover, learning in these mutants is rescued by walking on a motorized treadmill during training. Finally, cerebellar granule-cell-specific CB1KOs exhibit normal eyeblink conditioning, and both global and granule-cell-specific CB1KOs display normal cerebellum-dependent locomotor coordination and learning. These findings highlight the modulation of behavioral state as a powerful independent means through which individual genes contribute to complex behaviors.

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catarina Albergaria ◽  
N. Tatiana Silva ◽  
Dana Darmohray ◽  
Megan R. Carey

AbstractCannabinoids are notorious and profound modulators of behavioral state. In the brain, endocannabinoids act via Type 1-cannabinoid receptors (CB1) to modulate synaptic transmission and mediate multiple forms of synaptic plasticity. CB1 knockout (CB1KO) mice display a range of behavioral phenotypes, in particular hypoactivity and various deficits in learning and memory, including cerebellumdependent delay eyeblink conditioning. Here we find that the apparent effects of CB1 deletion on cerebellar learning are not due to direct effects on CB1-dependent plasticity, but rather, arise as a secondary consequence of altered behavioral state. Hypoactivity of CB1KO mice accounts for their impaired eyeblink conditioning across both animals and trials. Moreover, learning in these mutants is rescued by walking on a motorized treadmill during training. Finally, cerebellar granule cell-specific CB1KOs exhibit normal eyeblink conditioning, and both global and granule cell-specific CB1KOs display normal cerebellum-dependent locomotor coordination and learning. These findings highlight the modulation of behavioral state as a powerful independent means through which individual genes contribute to complex behaviors.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Waldo Lucas Luz ◽  
Mateus Santos-Silva ◽  
Patrick Bruno Cardoso ◽  
Nadyme Assad ◽  
Edinaldo Rogério da Silva Moraes ◽  
...  

Anxiety disorder is a well-recognized condition observed in subjects submitted to acute stress. Although the brain mechanisms underlying this disorder remain unclear, the available evidence indicates that oxidative stress and GABAergic dysfunction mediate the generation of stress-induced anxiety. Cannabinoids are known to be efficient modulators of behavior, given that the activation of the cannabinoid receptors type-1 (CB1 receptors) induces anxiolytic-like effects in animal models. In the present study, we aimed to describe the effects of the stimulation of the CB1 receptors on anxiety-like behavior, oxidative stress, and the GABA content of the brains of zebrafish submitted to acute restraint stress (ARS). The animals submitted to the ARS protocol presented evident anxiety-like behavior with increased lipid peroxidation in the brain tissue. The evaluation of the levels of GABA in the zebrafish telencephalon presented decreased levels of GABA in the ARS group in comparison with the control. Treatment with ACEA, a specific CB1 receptor agonist, prevented ARS-induced anxiety-like behavior and oxidative stress in the zebrafish brain. ACEA treatment also prevented a decrease in GABA in the telencephalon of the animals submitted to the ARS protocol. Overall, these preclinical data strongly suggest that the CB1 receptors represent a potential target for the development of the treatment of anxiety disorders elicited by acute stress.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Balapal Basavarajappa ◽  
Shivakumar Subbanna

The chief psychoactive constituent of many bioactive phytocannabinoids (Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol, Δ9-THC) found in hemp, cannabis or marijuana plants are scientifically denoted by the Latin term, Cannabis sativa, acts on cell surface receptors. These receptors are ubiquitously expressed. To date, two cannabinoid receptors have been cloned and characterized. Cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1R) is found to serve as the archetype for cannabinoid action in the brain. They have attracted wide interest as the mediator of all psychoactive properties of exogenous and endogenous cannabinoids and they are abundantly expressed on most inhibitory and excitatory neurons. Recent evidence established that cannabinoid receptor type 2 (CB2R) is also expressed in the neurons at both presynaptic and postsynaptic terminals and are involved in neuropsychiatric effects. Distinct types of cells in many regions in the brain express CB2Rs and the cellular origin of CB2Rs that induce specific behavioral effects are emerging. To mimic the bliss effects of marijuana, synthetic cannabinoids (SCBs) have been sprayed onto plant material, and this plant material has been consequently packaged and sold under brand name “Spice” or “K2”. These SCBs have been shown to maintain their affinity and functional activity for CB1R and CB2R and have been shown to cause severe harmful effects when compared to the effects of Δ9-THC. The present review discusses the potential brain mechanisms that are involved in the deleterious effects of SCBs.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (15) ◽  
pp. 8051
Author(s):  
Rodrigo Teodoro ◽  
Daniel Gündel ◽  
Winnie Deuther-Conrad ◽  
Lea Ueberham ◽  
Magali Toussaint ◽  
...  

Cannabinoid receptors type 2 (CB2R) represent an attractive therapeutic target for neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. Aiming at the development of a positron emission tomography (PET) radiotracer to monitor receptor density and/or occupancy during a CB2R-tailored therapy, we herein describe the radiosynthesis of cis-[18F]1-(4-fluorobutyl-N-((1s,4s)-4-methylcyclohexyl)-2-oxo-1,2-dihydro-1,8-naphthyridine-3-carboxamide ([18F]LU14) starting from the corresponding mesylate precursor. The first biological evaluation revealed that [18F]LU14 is a highly affine CB2R radioligand with >80% intact tracer in the brain at 30 min p.i. Its further evaluation by PET in a well-established rat model of CB2R overexpression demonstrated its ability to selectively image the CB2R in the brain and its potential as a tracer to further investigate disease-related changes in CB2R expression.


2021 ◽  
pp. 0271678X2199439
Author(s):  
Cen Yang ◽  
Jingjing Liu ◽  
Jingyi Wang ◽  
Anqi Yin ◽  
Zhenhua Jiang ◽  
...  

There are no effective treatments for stroke. The activation of endogenous protective mechanisms is a promising therapeutic approach, which evokes the intrinsic ability of the brain to protect itself. Accumulated evidence strongly suggests that electroacupuncture (EA) pretreatment induces rapid tolerance to cerebral ischemia. With regard to mechanisms underlying ischemic tolerance induced by EA, many molecules and signaling pathways are involved, such as the endocannabinoid system, although the exact mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. In the current study, we employed mutant mice, neuropharmacology, microdialysis, and virus transfection techniques in a middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model to explore the cell-specific and brain region-specific mechanisms of EA-induced neuroprotection. EA pretreatment resulted in increased ambient endocannabinoid (eCB) levels and subsequent activation of ischemic penumbral astroglial cannabinoid type 1 receptors (CB1R) which led to moderate upregulation of extracellular glutamate that protected neurons from cerebral ischemic injury. These findings provide a novel cellular mechanism of EA and a potential therapeutic target for ischemic stroke.


2012 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mingming Huang ◽  
Lifeng Gao ◽  
Liqin Yang ◽  
Fuchun Lin ◽  
Hao Lei

2006 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 177-181 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meet Shah ◽  
Theresa K. Smit ◽  
Susan Morgello ◽  
Wallace Tourtellotte ◽  
Benjamin Gelman ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geisa B. Gallardo‐Moreno ◽  
Francisco J. Alvarado‐Rodríguez ◽  
Rebeca Romo‐Vázquez ◽  
Hugo Vélez‐Pérez ◽  
Andrés A. González‐Garrido

Hypertension ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 66 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Takuto Nakamura ◽  
Masanobu Yamazato ◽  
Akio Ishida ◽  
Yusuke Ohya

Objective: Aminopeptidase A (APA) have important role in conversion of Ang II to Ang III. Intravenous APA administration lowers blood pressure in hypertensive rats. In contrast, APA inhibition in the brain lowers blood pressure in hypertensive rats. Therefore APA might have different role on cardiovascular regulation. However, a role of APA and Ang III on cardiovascular regulation especially in the brain has not been fully understood. Our purpose of present study was to investigate a role of APA and Ang III in the brain on cardiovascular regulation in conscious state. Method: 12-13 weeks old Wistar Kyoto rat (WKY) and 12-16 weeks old spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) were used. i) APA distribution in the brain was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Protein expression of APA was evaluated by Western blotting. Enzymatic activity of APA was evaluated using L-glutamic acid γ-(4-nitroanilide) as a substrate. ii) WKY received icv administration of Ang II 25ng/2μL and Ang III 25ng/2μL. We recorded change in mean arterial pressure (MAP) in conscious and unrestraied state and measured induced drinking time. iii) SHR received icv administeration of recombinant APA 400ng/4μL. We recorded change in MAP in conscious and unrestraied state and measured induced drinking time. Result: i) APA was diffusely immunostained in the cells of brain stem including cardiovascular regulatory area such as rostral ventrolateral medulla. Protein expression and APA activity in the brain were similar between WKY (n=3) and SHR (n=3).ii) Icv administration of Ang II increased MAP by 33.8±3.8 mmHg and induced drinking behavior for 405±90 seconds (n=4). Icv administration of Ang III also increased MAP by 24.7±2.4 mmHg and induced drinking behavior for 258±62 seconds (n=3). These vasopressor activity and induced drinking behavior was completely blocked by pretretment of angiotensin receptor type 1 blocker.iii) Icv administration of APA increased MAP by 10.0±1.7 mmHg (n=3). Conclusion: These results suggested that Ang III in the brain increase blood pressure by Angiotensin type 1 receptor dependent mechanism and APA in the brain may involved in blood pressure regulation as a vasopressor enzyme.


2012 ◽  
Vol 107 (9) ◽  
pp. 2453-2462 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sung-min Park ◽  
Esra Tara ◽  
Kamran Khodakhah

Reciprocal activity between populations of neurons has been widely observed in the brain and is essential for neuronal computation. The different mechanisms by which reciprocal neuronal activity is generated remain to be established. A common motif in neuronal circuits is the presence of afferents that provide excitation to one set of principal neurons and, via interneurons, inhibition to a second set of principal neurons. This circuitry can be the substrate for generation of reciprocal signals. Here we demonstrate that this equivalent circuit in the cerebellar cortex enables the reciprocal firing rates of Purkinje cells to be efficiently generated from a common set of mossy fiber inputs. The activity of a mossy fiber is relayed to Purkinje cells positioned immediately above it by excitatory granule cells. The firing rates of these Purkinje cells increase as a linear function of mossy fiber, and thus granule cell, activity. In addition to exciting Purkinje cells positioned immediately above it, the activity of a mossy fiber is relayed to laterally positioned Purkinje cells by a disynaptic granule cell → molecular layer interneuron pathway. Here we show in acutely prepared cerebellar slices that the input-output relationship of these laterally positioned Purkinje cells is linear and reciprocal to the first set. A similar linear input-output relationship between decreases in Purkinje cell firing and strength of stimulation of laterally positioned granule cells was also observed in vivo. Use of interneurons to generate reciprocal firing rates may be a common mechanism by which the brain generates reciprocal signals.


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