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Dragon J, Obuchowicz E. How depression and antidepressant drugs affect endocannabinoid system?-review of clinical and preclinical studies. NAUNYN-SCHMIEDEBERG'S ARCHIVES OF PHARMACOLOGY 2024; 397:4511-4536. [PMID: 38280009 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-023-02938-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/29/2024]
Abstract
As major depressive disorder is becoming a more and more common issue in modern society, it is crucial to discover new possible grip points for its diagnosis and antidepressive therapy. One of them is endocannabinoid system, which has been proposed as a manager of emotional homeostasis, and thus, endocannabinoid alterations have been found in animals undergoing various preclinical models of depression procedures as well as in humans suffering from depressive-like disorders. In this review article, studies regarding those alterations have been summed up and analyzed. Another important issue raised by the researchers is the impact of currently used antidepressive drugs on endocannabinoid system so that it would be possible to predict reversibility of endocannabinoid alterations following stress exposure and, in the future, to be able to design individually personalized therapies. Preclinical studies investigating this topic have been analyzed and described in this article. Unfortunately, too few clinical studies in this field exist, what indicates an urgent need for collecting such data, so that it would be possible to compare them with preclinical outcomes and draw reliable conclusions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonasz Dragon
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Medyków Street 18, 40-752, Katowice, Poland.
| | - Ewa Obuchowicz
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Medyków Street 18, 40-752, Katowice, Poland
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Banaei-Boroujeni G, Rezayof A, Alijanpour S, Nazari-Serenjeh F. Targeting mediodorsal thalamic CB1 receptors to inhibit dextromethorphan-induced anxiety/exploratory-related behaviors in rats: The post-weaning effect of exercise and enriched environment on adulthood anxiety. J Psychiatr Res 2023; 157:212-222. [PMID: 36495603 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2022.11.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Revised: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
Dextromethorphan (DXM) is an effective over-the-counter antitussive with an alarming increase as an abused drug for recreational purposes. Although reports of the association between DXM administration and anxiety, there are few investigations into the underlying DMX mechanisms of anxiogenic action. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate the role of the mediodorsal thalamus (MD) cannabinoid CB1 receptors (CB1Rs) in DXM-induced anxiety/exploratory-related behaviors in adult male Wistar rats. Animals were bilaterally cannulated in the MD regions. After one week, anxiety and exploratory behaviors were measured using an elevated plus-maze task (EPM) and a hole-board apparatus. Results showed that DXM (3-7 mg/kg, i. p.) dose-dependently increased anxiety-like behaviors. Intra-MD administration of ACPA (2.5-10 ng/rat), a selective CB1 receptor agonist, decreased anxiety-like effects of DXM. The blockade of MD CB1 receptors by AM-251 (40-120 ng/rat) did not affect the EPM task. However, it potentiated the anxiogenic response of an ineffective dose of DXM (3 mg/kg) in the animals. Moreover, the effect of post-weaning treadmill exercise (TEX) and enriched environment (EE) were examined in adulthood anxiety under the drug treatments. Juvenile rats were divided into TEX/EE and control groups. The TEX/EE-juvenile rats were placed on a treadmill and then exposed to EE for five weeks. Interestingly, compared to untreated animals, post-weaning TEX/EE inhibited the anxiety induced by DXM or AM-251/DXM. It can be concluded that the MD endocannabinoid system plays an essential role in the anxiogenic effect of dextromethorphan. Moreover, post-weaning exercise alongside an enriched environment may have an inhibitory effect on adulthood anxiety-like behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Golnoush Banaei-Boroujeni
- Department of Animal Biology, School of Biology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ameneh Rezayof
- Department of Animal Biology, School of Biology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Sakineh Alijanpour
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Gonbad Kavous University, Gonbad Kavous, Iran
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Lookfong NA, Raup-Konsavage WM, Silberman Y. Potential Utility of Cannabidiol in Stress-Related Disorders. Cannabis Cannabinoid Res 2022; 8:230-240. [PMID: 36409719 PMCID: PMC10061337 DOI: 10.1089/can.2022.0130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The endocannabinoid (eCB) system plays an important role in homeostatic regulation of anxiety and stress responses; however, the eCB system can be disrupted following traumatic stressors. Additionally, traumatic or chronic stressors that occur during adulthood or early life can cause long-lasting disturbances in the eCB system. These alterations interfere with hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function and may be involved in lifelong increased fear and anxiety behaviors as well as increased risk for development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Methods: This review focuses on the implications of trauma and significant stressors on eCB functionality and neural pathways, both in adolescence and into adulthood, as well as the current state of testing for CBD efficacy in treating pediatric and adult patients suffering from stress-induced eCB dysregulation. Articles were searched via Pubmed and included studies examining eCB modulation of stress-related disorders in both clinical settings and preclinical models. Conclusion: Given the potential for lifelong alterations in eCB signaling that can mediate stress responsiveness, consideration of pharmaceutical or nutraceutical agents that impact eCB targets may improve clinical outcomes in stress-related disorders. However, caution may be warranted in utilization of medicinal cannabinoid products that contain delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol due to pronounced euphorigenic effects and potential to exacerbate stress-related behaviors. Other cannabinoid products, such as cannabidiol (CBD), have shown promise in reducing stress-related behaviors in pre-clinical models. Overall, pre-clinical evidence supports CBD as a potential treatment for stress or anxiety disorders resulting from previously stressful events, particularly by reducing fearful behavior and promoting extinction of contextual fear memories, which are hallmarks of PTSD. However, very limited clinical research has been conducted examining the potential effectiveness of CBD in this regard and should be examined further.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole A. Lookfong
- Department of Neural and Behavioral Sciences, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | - Yuval Silberman
- Department of Neural and Behavioral Sciences, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
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Netzahualcoyotzi C, Rodríguez-Serrano LM, Chávez-Hernández ME, Buenrostro-Jáuregui MH. Early Consumption of Cannabinoids: From Adult Neurogenesis to Behavior. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:7450. [PMID: 34299069 PMCID: PMC8306314 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22147450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Revised: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a crucial modulatory system in which interest has been increasing, particularly regarding the regulation of behavior and neuroplasticity. The adolescent-young adulthood phase of development comprises a critical period in the maturation of the nervous system and the ECS. Neurogenesis occurs in discrete regions of the adult brain, and this process is linked to the modulation of some behaviors. Since marijuana (cannabis) is the most consumed illegal drug globally and the highest consumption rate is observed during adolescence, it is of particular importance to understand the effects of ECS modulation in these early stages of adulthood. Thus, in this article, we sought to summarize recent evidence demonstrating the role of the ECS and exogenous cannabinoid consumption in the adolescent-young adulthood period; elucidate the effects of exogenous cannabinoid consumption on adult neurogenesis; and describe some essential and adaptive behaviors, such as stress, anxiety, learning, and memory. The data summarized in this work highlight the relevance of maintaining balance in the endocannabinoid modulatory system in the early and adult stages of life. Any ECS disturbance may induce significant modifications in the genesis of new neurons and may consequently modify behavioral outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Citlalli Netzahualcoyotzi
- Laboratorio de Neurociencias, Departamento de Psicología, Universidad Iberoamericana Ciudad de México, Prolongación Paseo de la Reforma 880, Lomas de Santa Fé, Ciudad de México 01219, Mexico; (C.N.); (L.M.R.-S.); (M.E.C.-H.)
- Centro de Investigación en Ciencias de la Salud (CICSA), FCS, Universidad Anáhuac México Campus Norte, Huixquilucan 52786, Mexico
| | - Luis Miguel Rodríguez-Serrano
- Laboratorio de Neurociencias, Departamento de Psicología, Universidad Iberoamericana Ciudad de México, Prolongación Paseo de la Reforma 880, Lomas de Santa Fé, Ciudad de México 01219, Mexico; (C.N.); (L.M.R.-S.); (M.E.C.-H.)
- Laboratorio de Neurobiología de la alimentación, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Tlalnepantla 54090, Mexico
| | - María Elena Chávez-Hernández
- Laboratorio de Neurociencias, Departamento de Psicología, Universidad Iberoamericana Ciudad de México, Prolongación Paseo de la Reforma 880, Lomas de Santa Fé, Ciudad de México 01219, Mexico; (C.N.); (L.M.R.-S.); (M.E.C.-H.)
| | - Mario Humberto Buenrostro-Jáuregui
- Laboratorio de Neurociencias, Departamento de Psicología, Universidad Iberoamericana Ciudad de México, Prolongación Paseo de la Reforma 880, Lomas de Santa Fé, Ciudad de México 01219, Mexico; (C.N.); (L.M.R.-S.); (M.E.C.-H.)
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Tsotsokou G, Nikolakopoulou M, Kouvelas ED, Mitsacos A. Neonatal maternal separation affects metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 expression and anxiety-related behavior of adult rats. Eur J Neurosci 2021; 54:4550-4564. [PMID: 34137089 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2021] [Revised: 06/13/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to early life stress leads to long-term neurochemical and behavioral alterations. Stress-induced psychiatric disorders, such as depression, have recently been linked to dysregulation of glutamate signaling, mainly via its postsynaptic receptors. The role of metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) in stress-induced psychopathology has been the target of several studies in humans. In rodents, blockade of mGluR5 produces antidepressant-like actions, whereas mice lacking mGluR5 exhibit altered anxiety-like behaviors and learning. In this study, we used well-known rodent models of early life stress based on mother-infant separation during the first 3 weeks of life in order to examine the effects of neonatal maternal separation on mGluR5 expression and on anxiety-related behavior in adulthood. We observed that brief (15 min) neonatal maternal separation, but not prolonged (3 h), induced increases in mGluR5 mRNA and protein expression levels in medial prefrontal cortex and mGluR5 protein levels in dorsal, but not ventral, hippocampus of adult rat brain. Behavioral testing using the open-field and the elevated-plus maze tasks showed that brief maternal separations resulted in increased exploratory and decreased anxiety-related behavior, whereas prolonged maternal separations resulted in increased anxiety-related behavior in adulthood. The data indicate that the long-lasting effects of neonatal mother-offspring separation on anxiety-like behavior and mGluR5 expression depend on the duration of maternal separation and suggest that the increased mGluR5 receptors in medial prefrontal cortex and hippocampus of adult rats exposed to brief neonatal maternal separations may underlie their heightened ability to cope with stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giota Tsotsokou
- School of Health Sciences, Department of Medicine, Laboratory of Physiology, University Campus, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
| | - Maria Nikolakopoulou
- School of Health Sciences, Department of Medicine, Laboratory of Physiology, University Campus, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
| | - Elias D Kouvelas
- School of Health Sciences, Department of Medicine, Laboratory of Physiology, University Campus, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
| | - Ada Mitsacos
- School of Health Sciences, Department of Medicine, Laboratory of Physiology, University Campus, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
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Life-course effects of early life adversity exposure on eating behavior and metabolism. ADVANCES IN FOOD AND NUTRITION RESEARCH 2021; 97:237-273. [PMID: 34311901 DOI: 10.1016/bs.afnr.2021.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Environmental variations in early life influence brain development, making individuals more vulnerable to psychiatric and metabolic disorders. Early life stress (ELS) has a strong impact on the development of eating behavior. However, eating is a complex behavior, determined by an interaction between signals of energy homeostasis, neuronal circuits involved in its regulation, and circuits related to rewarding properties of the food. Although mechanisms underlying ELS-induced altered feeding behavior are not completely understood, evidence suggest that the effects of ELS on metabolic, mood, and emotional disorders, as well as reward system dysfunctions can contribute directly or indirectly to altered feeding behavior. The focus of this chapter is to discuss the effects of ELS on eating behavior and metabolism, considering different factors that control appetite such as energy homeostasis, hedonic properties of the food, emotional and cognitive status. After highlighting classic studies on the association between ELS and eating behavior alterations, we discuss how exposure to adversity can interact with genetics characteristics to predict variable outcomes.
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7
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Tiwari P, Fanibunda SE, Kapri D, Vasaya S, Pati S, Vaidya VA. GPCR signaling: role in mediating the effects of early adversity in psychiatric disorders. FEBS J 2021; 288:2602-2621. [DOI: 10.1111/febs.15738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Revised: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Praachi Tiwari
- Department of Biological Sciences Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Mumbai India
| | - Sashaina E. Fanibunda
- Department of Biological Sciences Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Mumbai India
- Medical Research Centre Kasturba Health Society Mumbai India
| | - Darshana Kapri
- Department of Biological Sciences Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Mumbai India
| | - Shweta Vasaya
- Department of Biological Sciences Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Mumbai India
| | - Sthitapranjya Pati
- Department of Biological Sciences Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Mumbai India
| | - Vidita A. Vaidya
- Department of Biological Sciences Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Mumbai India
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8
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Babicola L, Ventura R, D'Addario SL, Ielpo D, Andolina D, Di Segni M. Long term effects of early life stress on HPA circuit in rodent models. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2021; 521:111125. [PMID: 33333214 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2020.111125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2020] [Revised: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Adaptation to environmental challenges represents a critical process for survival, requiring the complex integration of information derived from both external cues and internal signals regarding current conditions and previous experiences. The Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis plays a central role in this process inducing the activation of a neuroendocrine signaling cascade that affects the delicate balance of activity and cross-talk between areas that are involved in sensorial, emotional, and cognitive processing such as the hippocampus, amygdala, Prefrontal Cortex, Ventral Tegmental Area, and dorsal raphe. Early life stress, especially early critical experiences with caregivers, influences the functional and structural organization of these areas, affects these processes in a long-lasting manner and may result in long-term maladaptive and psychopathological outcomes, depending on the complex interaction between genetic and environmental factors. This review summarizes the results of studies that have modeled this early postnatal stress in rodents during the first 2 postnatal weeks, focusing on the long-term effects on molecular and structural alteration in brain areas involved in Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function. Moreover, a brief investigation of epigenetic mechanisms and specific genetic targets mediating the long-term effects of these early environmental manipulations and at the basis of differential neurobiological and behavioral effects during adulthood is provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucy Babicola
- Dept. of Psychology and Center "Daniel Bovet", Sapienza University, 00184, Rome, Italy; IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Via Del Fosso di Fiorano, 64, 00143, Rome, Italy
| | - Rossella Ventura
- Dept. of Psychology and Center "Daniel Bovet", Sapienza University, 00184, Rome, Italy; IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Via Del Fosso di Fiorano, 64, 00143, Rome, Italy.
| | - Sebastian Luca D'Addario
- Dept. of Psychology and Center "Daniel Bovet", Sapienza University, 00184, Rome, Italy; IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Via Del Fosso di Fiorano, 64, 00143, Rome, Italy; Behavioral Neuroscience PhD Programme, Sapienza University, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00184, Rome, Italy
| | - Donald Ielpo
- Dept. of Psychology and Center "Daniel Bovet", Sapienza University, 00184, Rome, Italy; IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Via Del Fosso di Fiorano, 64, 00143, Rome, Italy; Behavioral Neuroscience PhD Programme, Sapienza University, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00184, Rome, Italy
| | - Diego Andolina
- Dept. of Psychology and Center "Daniel Bovet", Sapienza University, 00184, Rome, Italy; IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Via Del Fosso di Fiorano, 64, 00143, Rome, Italy
| | - Matteo Di Segni
- IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Via Del Fosso di Fiorano, 64, 00143, Rome, Italy.
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9
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deRoon-Cassini TA, Stollenwerk TM, Beatka M, Hillard CJ. Meet Your Stress Management Professionals: The Endocannabinoids. Trends Mol Med 2020; 26:953-968. [PMID: 32868170 PMCID: PMC7530069 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2020.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Revised: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 07/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The endocannabinoid signaling system (ECSS) is altered by exposure to stress and mediates and modulates the effects of stress on the brain. Considerable preclinical data support critical roles for the endocannabinoids and their target, the CB1 cannabinoid receptor, in the adaptation of the brain to repeated stress exposure. Chronic stress exposure increases vulnerability to mental illness, so the ECSS has attracted attention as a potential therapeutic target for the prevention and treatment of stress-related psychopathology. We discuss human genetic studies indicating that the ECSS contributes to risk for mental illness in those exposed to severe stress and trauma early in life, and we explore the potential difficulties in pharmacological manipulation of the ECSS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Terri A deRoon-Cassini
- Neuroscience Research Center, USA; Department of Surgery, Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Todd M Stollenwerk
- Neuroscience Research Center, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Margaret Beatka
- Neuroscience Research Center, USA; Department of Pathology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Cecilia J Hillard
- Neuroscience Research Center, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA.
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10
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O'Sullivan G, Humphrey RM, Thornton AM, Kerr DM, McGuire BE, Caes L, Roche M. Maternal presence or absence alters nociceptive responding and cortical anandamide levels in juvenile female rats. Behav Brain Res 2020; 392:112712. [PMID: 32479851 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2020.112712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Revised: 04/21/2020] [Accepted: 05/16/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
The influence of parental support on child pain experiences is well recognised. Accordingly, animal studies have revealed both short- and long-term effects of early life stress on nociceptive responding and neural substrates such as endocannabinoids. The endocannabinoid system plays an important role in mediating and modulating stress, social interaction, and nociception. This study examined the effects of maternal support or acute isolation on nociceptive responding of female rats to a range of stimuli during the juvenile pre-adolescent period and accompanying changes in the endocannabinoid system. The data revealed that juvenile female Sprague Dawley rats (PND21-24) isolated from the dam for 1 h prior to nociceptive testing exhibited increased latency to withdraw in the hot plate test and increased mechanical withdrawal threshold in the Von Frey test, compared to rats tested in the presence of the dam. Furthermore, isolated rats exhibited reduced latency to respond in the acetone drop test and enhanced nociceptive responding in the formalin test when compared to dam-paired counterparts. Anandamide, but not 2-AG, levels were reduced in the prefrontal cortex of dam-paired, but not isolated, juvenile rats following nociceptive testing. There was no change in the expression of CB1, FAAH or MAGL; however, CB2 receptor expression was reduced in both dam-paired and isolated rats following nociceptive testing. Taken together the data demonstrate that brief social isolation or the presence of the dam modulates nociceptive responding of juvenile rat pups in a modality specific manner, and suggest a possible role for the endocannabinoid system in the prefrontal cortex in sociobehavioural pain responses during early life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace O'Sullivan
- Centre for Pain Research, National University of Ireland Galway, Ireland; School of Psychology, National University of Ireland Galway, Ireland
| | - Rachel M Humphrey
- Physiology, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland Galway, Ireland; Centre for Pain Research, National University of Ireland Galway, Ireland; Galway Neuroscience Centre, National University of Ireland Galway, Ireland
| | - Aoife M Thornton
- Physiology, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland Galway, Ireland; Galway Neuroscience Centre, National University of Ireland Galway, Ireland
| | - Daniel M Kerr
- Galway Neuroscience Centre, National University of Ireland Galway, Ireland; Pharmacology, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland Galway, Ireland
| | - Brian E McGuire
- Centre for Pain Research, National University of Ireland Galway, Ireland; School of Psychology, National University of Ireland Galway, Ireland
| | - Line Caes
- Psychology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Scotland, UK
| | - Michelle Roche
- Physiology, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland Galway, Ireland; Centre for Pain Research, National University of Ireland Galway, Ireland; Galway Neuroscience Centre, National University of Ireland Galway, Ireland.
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11
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Sex differences in the interactive effects of early life stress and the endocannabinoid system. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2020; 80:106893. [PMID: 32437941 DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2020.106893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2019] [Revised: 05/06/2020] [Accepted: 05/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Sex differences in both the endocannabinoid system and stress responses have been established for decades. While there is ample evidence that the sexes respond differently to stress and that the endocannabinoid system is involved in this response, what is less clear is whether the endocannabinoid system mediates this response to stress differently in both sexes. Also, do the sexes respond similarly to exogenous cannabinoids (CBs) following stress? Can the administration of exogenous CBs normalize the effects of stress and if so, does this happen similarly in male and female subjects? This review will attempt to delineate the stress induced neurochemical alterations in the endocannabinoid system and the resulting behavioral changes across periods of development: prenatal, early neonatal or adolescent in males and females. Within this frame work, we will then examine the neurochemical and behavioral effects of exogenous CBs and illustrate that the response to CBs is determined by the stress history of the animal. The theoretical framework for this endeavor relates to the established effects of adverse childhood experiences (ACE) in increasing substance abuse, depression and anxiety and the possibility that individuals with high ACE scores may consume cannabinoids to "self-medicate". Overall, we see that while there are instances where exogenous cannabinoids "normalize" the adverse effects produced by early stress, this normalization does not occur in all animal models with any sort of consistency. The most compelling report where CB administration appears to normalize behaviors altered by early stress, shows minimal differences between the sexes (Alteba et al., 2016). This is in stark contrast to the majority of studies on early stress and the endocannabinoid system where both sexes are included and show quite divergent, in fact opposite, effects in males and females. Frequently there is a disconnect between neurochemical changes and behavioral changes and often, exogenous CBs have greater effects in stressed animals compared to non-stressed controls. This report as well as others reviewed here do support the concept that the effects of exogenous CBs are different in individuals experiencing early stress and that these differences are not equal in males and females. However, due to the wide variety of stressors used and the range of ages when the stress is applied, additional careful studies are warranted to fully understand the interactive effects of stress and the endocannabinoid system in males and females. In general, the findings do not support the statement that CB self-administration is an effective treatment for the adverse behavioral effects of early maltreatment in either males or females. Certainly this review should draw the attention of clinicians working with children, adolescents and adults exposed to early trauma and provide some perspective on the dysregulation of the endocannabinoid system in the response to trauma, the complex actions of exogenous CBs based on stress history and the unique effects of these factors in men and women.
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12
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Moussa-Tooks AB, Larson ER, Gimeno AF, Leishman E, Bartolomeo LA, Bradshaw HB, Green JT, O'Donnell BF, Mackie K, Hetrick WP. Long-Term Aberrations To Cerebellar Endocannabinoids Induced By Early-Life Stress. Sci Rep 2020; 10:7236. [PMID: 32350298 PMCID: PMC7190863 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-64075-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2019] [Accepted: 04/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Emerging evidence points to the role of the endocannabinoid system in long-term stress-induced neural remodeling with studies on stress-induced endocannabinoid dysregulation focusing on cerebral changes that are temporally proximal to stressors. Little is known about temporally distal and sex-specific effects, especially in cerebellum, which is vulnerable to early developmental stress and is dense with cannabinoid receptors. Following limited bedding at postnatal days 2-9, adult (postnatal day 70) cerebellar and hippocampal endocannabinoids, related lipids, and mRNA were assessed, and behavioral performance evaluated. Regional and sex-specific effects were present at baseline and following early-life stress. Limited bedding impaired peripherally-measured basal corticosterone in adult males only. In the CNS, early-life stress (1) decreased 2-arachidonoyl glycerol and arachidonic acid in the cerebellar interpositus nucleus in males only; (2) decreased 2-arachidonoyl glycerol in females only in cerebellar Crus I; and (3) increased dorsal hippocampus prostaglandins in males only. Cerebellar interpositus transcriptomics revealed substantial sex effects, with minimal stress effects. Stress did impair novel object recognition in both sexes and social preference in females. Accordingly, the cerebellar endocannabinoid system exhibits robust sex-specific differences, malleable through early-life stress, suggesting the role of endocannabinoids and stress to sexual differentiation of the brain and cerebellar-related dysfunctions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra B Moussa-Tooks
- Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
- Program in Neuroscience, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Eric R Larson
- Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Alex F Gimeno
- Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Emma Leishman
- Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
- Program in Neuroscience, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Lisa A Bartolomeo
- Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Heather B Bradshaw
- Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
- Program in Neuroscience, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - John T Green
- Department of Psychological Science, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
| | - Brian F O'Donnell
- Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
- Program in Neuroscience, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Ken Mackie
- Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
- Program in Neuroscience, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
- Linda and Jack Gill Center for Biomolecular Science, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - William P Hetrick
- Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA.
- Program in Neuroscience, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
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Developmental differences in the effects of CB1/2R agonist WIN55212-2 on extinction of learned fear. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2020; 99:109834. [PMID: 31830508 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2019.109834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2019] [Revised: 11/18/2019] [Accepted: 12/03/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Adolescence is characterised by substantial changes in emotion regulation and, in particular, impaired extinction consolidation and retention. In this study, we replicated the well-established finding that increasing the activation of cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1R) via the agonist WIN55212-2 improves fear extinction in adult rodents before examining whether this adjunct would also rescue the extinction retention deficit seen in adolescent rodents. Contrary to the effects in adults, we found that WIN55212-2 impaired within-session acquisition of extinction in adolescent rats with no effect on extinction retention. The same effects of WIN55212-2 were observed for juvenile rats, and did not vary as a function of drug dose. Increased fear expression observed during extinction training was not a result of altered locomotor or anxiety-like behaviour in adolescent rats, as assessed by the open field test. Lastly, we observed a linear decrease in CB1R protein expression across age (i.e., from juveniles, to adolescents, and adults) in both the medial prefrontal cortex and amygdala, two regions implicated in fear expression and extinction, suggesting that there is continued refinement of the endocannabinoid system across development in two regions involved in extinction. Our findings suggest that the expression and extinction of fear in developing rats is differentially affected by CB1R agonism due to an immature endocannabinoid system.
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14
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Simone JJ, Baumbach JL, McPherson J, McCormick CM. Adolescent CB1 receptor antagonism influences subsequent social interactions and neural activity in female rats. Int J Dev Neurosci 2020; 80:319-333. [PMID: 32220094 DOI: 10.1002/jdn.10028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2020] [Revised: 03/18/2020] [Accepted: 03/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
We previously demonstrated that repeated exposure to the CB1 receptor antagonist/inverse agonist AM251 in adolescence (PND 30-44) increased social interactions in female rats when tested 48 h after the final exposure to the antagonist. Here, we investigated whether the increased sociality would be present after a longer drug washout period (5 days) in both male and female rats (experiment 1), and sought to identify candidate brain regions that may explain the observed differences in social behaviours between AM251 and vehicle-treated female rats (experiment 2). While drug-free, adolescent AM251 treatment increased social interactions in females and not in males. AM251 female rats had increased neural activity (as measured by the expression of early growth response protein-1; EGR-1) in the nucleus accumbens shell and cingulate gyrus of the medial prefrontal cortex, with no observed differences in EGR-1 expression in the dorsal hippocampus, nucleus accumbens core, or prelimbic and infralimbic subdivisions of the medial prefrontal cortex relative to vehicle rats. Together, these results demonstrate a sex-specific role of adolescent endocannabinoid signalling in the normative development of social behaviours and provide further support for adolescence as a vulnerable period for the effects of altered endocannabinoid signalling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan J Simone
- Department of Biological Sciences, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON, Canada
| | - Jennet L Baumbach
- Department of Psychology, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON, Canada
| | | | - Cheryl M McCormick
- Department of Biological Sciences, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON, Canada.,Department of Psychology, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON, Canada.,Centre for Neuroscience, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON, Canada
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15
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Remote CB1 receptor antagonist administration reveals multiple sites of tonic and phasic endocannabinoid neuroendocrine regulation. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2020; 113:104549. [PMID: 31884322 PMCID: PMC7566018 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2019.104549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2019] [Revised: 10/21/2019] [Accepted: 12/13/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Endogenous cannabinoids (endocannabinoids, eCB) are expressed throughout the body and contribute to regulation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and general stress reactivity. This study assessed the contributions of CB1 receptors (CB1R) in the modulation of basal and stress-induced neural and HPA axis activities. Catheterized adult male rats were placed in chambers to acclimate overnight, with their catheters connected and exteriorized from the chambers for relatively stress-free remote injections. The next morning, the CB1R antagonist AM251 (1 or 2 mg/kg) or vehicle was administered, and 30 min later, rats were exposed to loud noise stress (30 min) or no noise (basal condition). Blood, brains, pituitary and adrenal glands were collected immediately after the procedures for analysis of c-fos and CB1R mRNAs, corticosterone (CORT) and adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH) plasma levels. Basally, CB1R antagonism induced c-fos mRNA in the basolateral amygdala (BLA) and auditory cortex (AUD) and elevated plasma CORT, indicating disruption of eCB-mediated constitutive inhibition of activity. CB1R blockade also potentiated stress-induced hormone levels and c-fos mRNA in several regions such as the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BST), lateral septum (LS), and basolateral amygdala (BLA) and the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN). CB1R mRNA was detected in all central tissues investigated, and the adrenal cortex, but at very low levels in the anterior pituitary gland. Interestingly, CB1R mRNA was rapidly and bidirectionally regulated in response to stress and/or antagonist treatment in some regions. eCBs therefore modulate the HPA axis by regulating both constitutive and activity-dependent inhibition at multiple levels.
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16
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Goldstein Ferber S, Trezza V, Weller A. Early life stress and development of the endocannabinoid system: A bidirectional process in programming future coping. Dev Psychobiol 2019; 63:143-152. [PMID: 31849055 DOI: 10.1002/dev.21944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2019] [Revised: 10/31/2019] [Accepted: 11/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) critically regulates stress responsivity and emotional behavior throughout development. It regulates anxiety-like behaviors in humans and animal models. In addition, it is sensitive to early life stress at the gene expression level in a sex-dependent and region-dependent manner, and these changes are already evident in the adolescent brain. The ECS modulates the neuroendocrine and behavioral effects of stress, and is also capable of being affected by stress exposure itself. Early life stress interferes with the development of corticolimbic circuits, a major location of endocannabinoid receptors, and increases vulnerability to adult psychopathology. Early life stress alters the ontogeny of the ECS, resulting in a sustained deficit in its function, particularly within the hippocampus. Specifically, exposure to early stress results in bidirectional changes in anandamide and 2-AG tissue levels within the amygdala and hippocampus and reduces hippocampal endocannabinoid function at puberty. CB1 receptor densities across all brain regions are downregulated later in life following exposure to early life stress. Manipulations affecting the glucocorticoid and the endocannabinoid systems persistently adjust individual emotional responses and synaptic plasticity. This review aims to show the bidirectional trajectories of endocannabinoid modulation of emotionality in reaction to early life stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sari Goldstein Ferber
- Psychology Department and Gonda Brain Research Center, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | | | - Aron Weller
- Psychology Department and Gonda Brain Research Center, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
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