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Kogan NM, Begmatova D, Vinnikova L, Malitsky S, Itkin M, Sharon E, Klinov A, Gorelick J, Koman I, Vogel Z, Mechoulam R, Pinhasov A. Endocannabinoid basis of personality-Insights from animal model of social behavior. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1234332. [PMID: 37663250 PMCID: PMC10468576 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1234332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Rationale: The endocannabinoid system is known to be involved in learning, memory, emotional processing and regulation of personality patterns. Here we assessed the endocannabinoid profile in the brains of mice with strong characteristics of social dominance and submissiveness. Methods: A lipidomics approach was employed to assess the endocannabinoidome in the brains of Dominant (Dom) and Submissive (Sub) mice. The endocannabinoid showing the greatest difference in concentration in the brain between the groups, docosatetraenoyl ethanolamine (DEA), was synthesized, and its effects on the physiological and behavioral responses of Dom and Sub mice were evaluated. mRNA expression of the endocannabinoid receptors and enzymes involved in PUFA biosynthesis was assessed using qRT-PCR. Results: Targeted LC/MS analysis revealed that long-chain polyunsaturated ethanolamides including arachidonoyl ethanolamide (AEA), DEA, docosatrienoyl ethanolamide (DTEA), eicosatrienoyl ethanolamide (ETEA), eicosapentaenoyl ethanolamide (EPEA) and docosahexaenoyl ethanolamide (DHEA) were higher in the Sub compared with the Dom mice. Untargeted LC/MS analysis showed that the parent fatty acids, docosatetraenoic (DA) and eicosapentaenoic (EPA), were higher in Sub vs. Dom. Gene expression analysis revealed increased mRNA expression of genes encoding the desaturase FADS2 and the elongase ELOVL5 in Sub mice compared with Dom mice. Acute DEA administration at the dose of 15 mg/kg produced antinociceptive and locomotion-inducing effects in Sub mice, but not in Dom mice. Subchronic treatment with DEA at the dose of 5 mg/kg augmented dominant behavior in wild-type ICR and Dom mice but not in Sub mice. Conclusion: This study suggests that the endocannabinoid system may play a role in the regulation of dominance and submissiveness, functional elements of social behavior and personality. While currently we have only scratched the surface, understanding the role of the endocannabinoid system in personality may help in revealing the mechanisms underlying the etiopathology of psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalya M. Kogan
- Department of Molecular Biology, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
- The Institute of Personalized and Translational Medicine, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
- Institute of Drug Research, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
| | | | | | - Sergey Malitsky
- Life Sciences Core Facilities, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Maxim Itkin
- Life Sciences Core Facilities, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Eyal Sharon
- The Institute of Personalized and Translational Medicine, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
| | - Artem Klinov
- Department of Molecular Biology, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
| | | | - Igor Koman
- Department of Molecular Biology, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
- The Institute of Personalized and Translational Medicine, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
| | - Zvi Vogel
- Department of Neurbiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | | | - Albert Pinhasov
- Department of Molecular Biology, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
- Adelson School of Medicine, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
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Shi P, Hu L, Ren H, Dai Q. Reward enhances resilience to chronic social defeat stress in mice: Neural ECs and mGluR5 mechanism via neuroprotection in VTA and DRN. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1084367. [PMID: 36873216 PMCID: PMC9978385 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1084367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Stress often leads to emotional disorders such as depression. The reward might render this effect through the enhancement of stress resilience. However, the effect of reward on stress resilience under different intensities of stress needs more evidence, and its potential neural mechanism has been poorly revealed. It has been reported that the endogenous cannabinoid system (ECs) and downstream metabolic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) are closely related to stress and reward, which might be the potential cerebral mechanism between reward and stress resilience, but there is a lack of direct evidence. This study aims to observe the effect of reward on stress resilience under different intensities of stress and further explore potential cerebral mechanisms underlying this effect. METHODS Using the chronic social defeat stress model, we applied reward (accompanied by a female mouse) under different intensities of stress in mice during the modeling process. The impact of reward on stress resilience and the potential cerebral mechanism were observed after modeling through behavioral tests and biomolecules. RESULTS The results showed that stronger stress led to higher degrees of depression-like behavior. Reward reduced depression-like behavior and enhanced stress resilience (all p-value <0.05) (more social interaction in the social test, less immobility time in the forced swimming test, etc.), with a stronger effect under the large stress. Furthermore, the mRNA expression levels of CB1 and mGluR5, the protein expression level of mGluR5, and the expression level of 2-AG (2-arachidonoylglycerol) in both ventral tegmental area (VTA) and dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) were significantly upregulated by reward after modeling (all p-value <0.05). However, the protein expression of CB1 in VTA and DRN and the expression of AEA (anandamide) in VTA did not differ significantly between groups. Intraperitoneal injection of a CB1 agonist (URB-597) during social defeat stress significantly reduced depression-like behavior compared with a CB1 inhibitor (AM251) (all p-value <0.05). Interestingly, in DRN, the expression of AEA in the stress group was lower than that of the control group, with or without reward (all p-value <0.05). DISCUSSION These findings demonstrate that combined social and sexual reward has a positive effect on stress resilience during chronic social defeat stress, potentially by influencing the ECs and mGluR5 in VTA and DRN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peixia Shi
- Department of Medical Psychology, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China.,Department of Neurology, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Linlin Hu
- Department of Neurology, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Hui Ren
- Department of Nursing Psychology, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Qin Dai
- Department of Medical Psychology, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China.,Department of Nursing Psychology, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
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Wei D, Tsheringla S, McPartland JC, Allsop AZASA. Combinatorial approaches for treating neuropsychiatric social impairment. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2022; 377:20210051. [PMID: 35858103 PMCID: PMC9274330 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2021.0051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Social behaviour is an essential component of human life and deficits in social function are seen across multiple psychiatric conditions with high morbidity. However, there are currently no FDA-approved treatments for social dysfunction. Since social cognition and behaviour rely on multiple signalling processes acting in concert across various neural networks, treatments aimed at social function may inherently require a combinatorial approach. Here, we describe the social neurobiology of the oxytocin and endocannabinoid signalling systems as well as translational evidence for their use in treating symptoms in the social domain. We leverage this systems neurobiology to propose a network-based framework that involves pharmacology, psychotherapy, non-invasive brain stimulation and social skills training to combinatorially target trans-diagnostic social impairment. Lastly, we discuss the combined use of oxytocin and endocannabinoids within our proposed framework as an illustrative strategy to treat specific aspects of social function. Using this framework provides a roadmap for actionable treatment strategies for neuropsychiatric social impairment. This article is part of the theme issue 'Interplays between oxytocin and other neuromodulators in shaping complex social behaviours'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Don Wei
- Department of Psychiatry, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Lee YJ, Lin HT, Chaudhary MA, Lee YC, Wang DC. Effects of Prenatal Phthalate Exposure and Childhood Exercise on Maternal Behaviors in Female Rats at Postpartum: A Role of Oxtr Methylation in the Hypothalamus. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:9847. [PMID: 34576011 PMCID: PMC8465903 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22189847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Revised: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Both the detrimental effect of prenatal exposure to di-(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate (DEHP) and the beneficial effects of physical exercise on brain functions have been reported. The oxytocin pathway has been implicated in the onset of maternal behaviors. Epigenetic modification of the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) through DNA methylation has been associated with the pathogenesis of neuropsychiatric disorders. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of prenatal DEHP exposure on oxytocin-regulated maternal behaviors and to examine the protective effect of exercise. Pregnant rats (F0) were fed with vehicle or DEHP during gestation and the offspring females (F1) were assessed for their maternal behaviors by pup retrieval test at postpartum. The results showed that reduced pup retrieval activities without significant alteration of stress responses were observed in the prenatally DEHP-exposed females. Prenatal DEHP exposure decreased the expressions of oxytocin, Oxtr mRNA, and oxytocin receptor, and increased Oxtr methylation in the hypothalamus of postpartum female rats. There were no significant effects of exercise on behavioral, biochemical, and epigenetic measurements. These results suggest that prenatal DEHP exposure has a long-term adverse effect on maternal behaviors; Oxtr hyper-methylation may be a potential epigenetic mechanism for this alteration, which cannot be prevented by physical exercise during childhood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Ju Lee
- Department of Sports Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan; (Y.-J.L.); (H.-T.L.)
| | - Hwai-Ting Lin
- Department of Sports Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan; (Y.-J.L.); (H.-T.L.)
- Ph. D. Program in Biomedical Engineering, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan;
| | - Muhammad Asad Chaudhary
- Ph. D. Program in Biomedical Engineering, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan;
| | - Yi-Ching Lee
- Department of Food and Beverage Services, Tainan University of Technology, Tainan 710302, Taiwan;
| | - Dean-Chuan Wang
- Department of Sports Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan; (Y.-J.L.); (H.-T.L.)
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Research, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
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Gellner AK, Voelter J, Schmidt U, Beins EC, Stein V, Philipsen A, Hurlemann R. Molecular and neurocircuitry mechanisms of social avoidance. Cell Mol Life Sci 2020; 78:1163-1189. [PMID: 32997200 PMCID: PMC7904739 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-020-03649-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2020] [Revised: 09/09/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Humans and animals live in social relationships shaped by actions of approach and avoidance. Both are crucial for normal physical and mental development, survival, and well-being. Active withdrawal from social interaction is often induced by the perception of threat or unpleasant social experience and relies on adaptive mechanisms within neuronal networks associated with social behavior. In case of confrontation with overly strong or persistent stressors and/or dispositions of the affected individual, maladaptive processes in the neuronal circuitries and its associated transmitters and modulators lead to pathological social avoidance. This review focuses on active, fear-driven social avoidance, affected circuits within the mesocorticolimbic system and associated regions and a selection of molecular modulators that promise translational potential. A comprehensive review of human research in this field is followed by a reflection on animal studies that offer a broader and often more detailed range of analytical methodologies. Finally, we take a critical look at challenges that could be addressed in future translational research on fear-driven social avoidance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne-Kathrin Gellner
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Jella Voelter
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Oldenburg, Hermann-Ehlers-Str. 7, 26160, Bad Zwischenahn, Germany
| | - Ulrike Schmidt
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127, Bonn, Germany.,Department of Psychiatry Und Psychotherapy, University of Göttingen, Von-Siebold-Str. 5, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Eva Carolina Beins
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Valentin Stein
- Institute of Physiology II, University Hospital Bonn, 53115, Bonn, Germany
| | - Alexandra Philipsen
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - René Hurlemann
- Division of Medical Psychology, Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127, Bonn, Germany. .,Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Oldenburg, Hermann-Ehlers-Str. 7, 26160, Bad Zwischenahn, Germany. .,Research Center Neurosensory Science, University of Oldenburg, 26129, Oldenburg, Germany.
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Scheyer AF, Borsoi M, Wager-Miller J, Pelissier-Alicot AL, Murphy MN, Mackie K, Manzoni OJJ. Cannabinoid Exposure via Lactation in Rats Disrupts Perinatal Programming of the Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid Trajectory and Select Early-Life Behaviors. Biol Psychiatry 2020; 87:666-677. [PMID: 31653479 PMCID: PMC7056509 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2019.08.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2019] [Revised: 08/26/2019] [Accepted: 08/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cannabis usage is increasing with its widespread legalization. Cannabis use by mothers during lactation transfers active cannabinoids to the developing offspring during this critical period and alters postnatal neurodevelopment. A key neurodevelopmental landmark is the excitatory to inhibitory gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) switch caused by reciprocal changes in expression ratios of the K+/Cl- transporters potassium-chloride cotransporter 2 (KCC2) and sodium-potassium-chloride transporter (NKCC1). METHODS Rat dams were treated with Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol or a synthetic cannabinoid during the first 10 days of postnatal development, and experiments were then conducted in the offspring exposed to these drugs via lactation. The network influence of GABA transmission was analyzed using cell-attached recordings. KCC2 and NKCC1 levels were determined using Western blot and quantitative polymerase chain reaction analyses. Ultrasonic vocalization and homing behavioral experiments were carried out at relevant time points. RESULTS Treating rat dams with cannabinoids during early lactation retards transcriptional upregulation and expression of KCC2, thereby delaying the GABA switch in pups of both sexes. This perturbed trajectory was corrected by the NKCC1 antagonist bumetanide and accompanied by alterations in ultrasonic vocalization without changes in homing behavior. Neurobehavioral deficits were prevented by CB1 receptor antagonism during maternal exposure, showing that the CB1 receptor underlies the cannabinoid-induced alterations. CONCLUSIONS These results reveal how perinatal cannabinoid exposure retards an early milestone of development, delaying the trajectory of GABA's polarity transition and altering early-life communication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew F Scheyer
- Institut de neurobiologie de la Méditerranée, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U1249, Marseille, France; Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France; Cannalab, Cannabinoids Neuroscience Research International Associated Laboratory, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale-Aix-Marseille University/Indiana University
| | - Milene Borsoi
- Institut de neurobiologie de la Méditerranée, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U1249, Marseille, France; Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France; Cannalab, Cannabinoids Neuroscience Research International Associated Laboratory, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale-Aix-Marseille University/Indiana University
| | - Jim Wager-Miller
- Cannalab, Cannabinoids Neuroscience Research International Associated Laboratory, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale-Aix-Marseille University/Indiana University; Gill Center for Biomolecular Science, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana; Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana
| | - Anne-Laure Pelissier-Alicot
- Institut de neurobiologie de la Méditerranée, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U1249, Marseille, France; Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France; Cannalab, Cannabinoids Neuroscience Research International Associated Laboratory, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale-Aix-Marseille University/Indiana University; Service de Psychiatrie, CHU Conception, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Marseille, Marseille, France; Service de Médecine Légale, CHU Timone-Adultes, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Marseille, Marseille, France
| | - Michelle N Murphy
- Cannalab, Cannabinoids Neuroscience Research International Associated Laboratory, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale-Aix-Marseille University/Indiana University; Gill Center for Biomolecular Science, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana; Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana
| | - Ken Mackie
- Cannalab, Cannabinoids Neuroscience Research International Associated Laboratory, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale-Aix-Marseille University/Indiana University; Gill Center for Biomolecular Science, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana; Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana.
| | - Olivier J J Manzoni
- Institut de neurobiologie de la Méditerranée, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U1249, Marseille, France; Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France; Cannalab, Cannabinoids Neuroscience Research International Associated Laboratory, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale-Aix-Marseille University/Indiana University.
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Gross M, Romi H, Gilimovich Y, Drori E, Pinhasov A. Placental glucocorticoid receptor and 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-2 recruitment indicates impact of prenatal adversity upon postnatal development in mice. Stress 2018; 21:474-483. [PMID: 29648494 DOI: 10.1080/10253890.2018.1460660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Prenatal stress may increase concentrations of maternal glucocorticoids, which restrict fetal growth, with variable impact upon postnatal development. Among key regulators of stress hormone effects are the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-2 (11βHSD2), the enzyme that inactivates glucocorticoid. This study utilized mice selectively bred for social dominance (Dom) or submissiveness (Sub), respectively exhibiting resilience or sensitivity to stress, to test whether stress-induced alterations in placental GR and 11βHSD2 protein expression may mediate divergent effects of prenatal adversity upon postnatal development. Pregnant Dom and Sub dams underwent prenatal restraint stress (PRS) for 45 min on gestational days (GD) 15-17. PRS induced a similar spike in serum corticosterone concentrations of dams from each strain on GD15 (p < .001, n = 8), and impaired fetal growth (p < .01, n = 5 litters), although Dom placentae were larger than Sub placentae (p < .01). Among placentae from Dom dams, PRS elevated protein contents of both GR (p < .05, n = 5 litters) and 11βHSD2 (p < .01) on GD19. In contrast, GR contents were reduced among placentae from PRS-exposed Sub mice (p < .01), without changes in 11βHSD2 content. Correspondingly, Dom PRS pup growth recovered by PND14, yet Sub PRS pups remained underweight into adolescence (p < .0001, n = 40 pups). Thus, prenatal stress more strongly increased placental GR and 11βHSD2 levels among Dom mice than in Subs. Increased GR may improve placental function and up-regulate 11βHSD2 expression, protecting fetuses from effects of prenatal stress upon postnatal development. Placental recruitment of GR and 11βHSD2 are potential markers of stress-induced developmental disorders, in accordance with maternal resilience or sensitivity to stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moshe Gross
- Department of Molecular Biology, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
| | - Hava Romi
- Department of Molecular Biology, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
| | | | - Elyashiv Drori
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
- Agriculture and Oenology Research Department, Eastern R&D center, Ariel, Israel
| | - Albert Pinhasov
- Department of Molecular Biology, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
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He Z, Guo Q, Yang Y, Wang L, Zhang S, Yuan W, Li L, Zhang J, Hou W, Yang J, Jia R, Tai F. Pre-weaning paternal deprivation impairs social recognition and alters hippocampal neurogenesis and spine density in adult mandarin voles. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2018; 155:452-462. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2018.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2017] [Revised: 08/30/2018] [Accepted: 09/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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Driessen TM, Zhao C, Saenz M, Stevenson SA, Owada Y, Gammie SC. Down-regulation of fatty acid binding protein 7 (Fabp7) is a hallmark of the postpartum brain. J Chem Neuroanat 2018; 92:92-101. [PMID: 30076883 DOI: 10.1016/j.jchemneu.2018.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2018] [Revised: 06/25/2018] [Accepted: 07/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Fatty acid binding protein 7 (Fabp7) is a versatile protein that is linked to glial differentiation and proliferation, neurogenesis, and multiple mental health disorders. Recent microarray studies identified a robust decrease in Fabp7 expression in key brain regions of the postpartum rodents. Given its diverse functions, Fabp7 could play a critical role in sculpting the maternal brain and promoting the maternal phenotype. The present study aimed at investigating the expression profile of Fabp7 across the postpartum CNS. Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) analysis showed that Fabp7 mRNA was consistently down-regulated across the postpartum brain. Of the 9 maternal care-related regions tested, seven exhibited significant decreases in Fabp7 in postpartum (relative to virgin) females, including medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), nucleus accumbens (NA), lateral septum (LS), bed nucleus of stria terminalis dorsal (BnSTd), paraventricular nucleus (PVN), lateral hypothalamus (LH), and basolateral and central amygdala (BLA/CeA). For both ventral tegmental area (VTA) and medial preoptic area (MPOA) levels of Fabp7 were lower in mothers, but levels of changes did not reach significance. Confocal microscopy revealed that protein expression of Fabp7 in the LS paralleled mRNA findings. Specifically, the caudal LS exhibited a significant reduction in Fabp7 immunoreactivity, while decreases in medial LS were just above significance. Double fluorescent immunolabeling confirmed the astrocytic phenotype of Fabp7-expressing cells. Collectively, this research demonstrates a broad and marked reduction in Fabp7 expression in the postpartum brain, suggesting that down-regulation of Fabp7 may serve as a hallmark of the postpartum brain and contribute to the maternal phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Terri M Driessen
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Changjiu Zhao
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
| | - Marissa Saenz
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA, USA
| | - Sharon A Stevenson
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Yuji Owada
- Department of Organ Anatomy, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Stephen C Gammie
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA; Neuroscience Training Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
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Social dominance predicts hippocampal glucocorticoid receptor recruitment and resilience to prenatal adversity. Sci Rep 2018; 8:9595. [PMID: 29941995 PMCID: PMC6018627 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-27988-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2018] [Accepted: 06/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The developing fetus is highly sensitive to prenatal stress, which may alter Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis programming and increase the risk of behavioral disorders. There is high variability among the human population, wherein many offspring of stressed pregnancies display resilience to adversity, while the remainder displays vulnerability. In order to identify biological substrates mediating between resilience or vulnerability to prenatal adversity, we exposed stress-resistant Dominant (Dom) and stress-sensitive Submissive (Sub) mice to mild prenatal restraint stress (PRS, 45 min on gestational days (GD) 15, 16 and 17). We hypothesized that PRS would differentially alter prenatal programming of limbic regions regulating the HPA axis and affect among Dom and Sub offspring. Indeed, PRS increased Sub offspring’s serum corticosterone, and exaggerated their anxiety- and depressive-like behavior, while Dom offspring remained resilient to the hormonal and behavioral consequences of PRS. Moreover, PRS exposure markedly facilitated glucocorticoid receptor (GR) recruitment to the hippocampus among Dom mice in response to restraint stress, which may be responsible for their resilience to stressful challenge. These findings suggest proclivity to adaptive or maladaptive prenatal programming of hippocampal GR recruitment to be inheritable and predictable by social dominance or submissiveness.
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Yanovich C, Kirby ML, Michaelevski I, Yadid G, Pinhasov A. Social rank-associated stress vulnerability predisposes individuals to cocaine attraction. Sci Rep 2018; 8:1759. [PMID: 29379100 PMCID: PMC5789078 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-19816-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2017] [Accepted: 01/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies of personality have suggested that dissimilarities in ability to cope with stressful situations results in differing tendency to develop addictive behaviors. The present study used selectively bred stress-resilient, socially-dominant (Dom) and stress-vulnerable, socially-submissive (Sub) mice to investigate the interaction between environmental stress and inbred predisposition to develop addictive behavior to cocaine. In a Conditioned Place Preference (CPP) paradigm using cocaine, Sub mice displayed an aversion to drug, whereas Dom mice displayed drug attraction. Following a 4-week regimen of Chronic Mild Stress (CMS), Sub mice in CPP displayed a marked increase (>400%) in cocaine attraction, whereas Dom mice did not differ in attraction from their non-stressed state. Examination of hippocampal gene expression revealed in Sub mice, exposure to external stimuli, stress or cocaine, increased CRH expression (>100%), which was evoked in Dom mice only by cocaine exposure. Further, stress-induced decreases in DRD1 (>60%) and DRD2 (>50%) expression in Sub mice differed markedly from a complete lack of change in Dom mice. From our findings, we propose that social stratification dictates vulnerability to stress-induced attraction that may lead to addiction via differential regulation of hippocampal response to dopaminergic input, which in turn may influence differing tendency to develop addictive behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Yanovich
- Department of Molecular Biology, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
| | - Michael L Kirby
- Department of Molecular Biology, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
| | | | - Gal Yadid
- Leslie and Susan Gonda (Goldschmied) Multidisciplinary Brain Research Center and the Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel.
| | - Albert Pinhasov
- Department of Molecular Biology, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel.
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Wei D, Allsop S, Tye K, Piomelli D. Endocannabinoid Signaling in the Control of Social Behavior. Trends Neurosci 2017; 40:385-396. [PMID: 28554687 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2017.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2017] [Revised: 04/16/2017] [Accepted: 04/21/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Many mammalian species, including humans, exhibit social behavior and form complex social groups. Mechanistic studies in animal models have revealed important roles for the endocannabinoid signaling system, comprising G protein-coupled cannabinoid receptors and their endogenous lipid-derived agonists, in the control of neural processes that underpin social anxiety and social reward, two key aspects of social behavior. An emergent insight from these studies is that endocannabinoid signaling in specific circuits of the brain is context dependent and selectively recruited. These insights open new vistas on the neural basis of social behavior and social impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Don Wei
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA; School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Stephen Allsop
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kay Tye
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Daniele Piomelli
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA; School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA.
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13
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Volkow ND, Hampson AJ, Baler RD. Don't Worry, Be Happy: Endocannabinoids and Cannabis at the Intersection of Stress and Reward. Annu Rev Pharmacol Toxicol 2017; 57:285-308. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev-pharmtox-010716-104615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nora D. Volkow
- National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892;
| | - Aidan J. Hampson
- National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892;
| | - Ruben D. Baler
- National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892;
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14
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Karhson DS, Hardan AY, Parker KJ. Endocannabinoid signaling in social functioning: an RDoC perspective. Transl Psychiatry 2016; 6:e905. [PMID: 27676446 PMCID: PMC5048207 DOI: 10.1038/tp.2016.169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2016] [Accepted: 07/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Core deficits in social functioning are associated with various neuropsychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders, yet biomarker identification and the development of effective pharmacological interventions has been limited. Recent data suggest the intriguing possibility that endogenous cannabinoids, a class of lipid neuromodulators generally implicated in the regulation of neurotransmitter release, may contribute to species-typical social functioning. Systematic study of the endogenous cannabinoid signaling could, therefore, yield novel approaches to understand the neurobiological underpinnings of atypical social functioning. This article provides a critical review of the major components of the endogenous cannabinoid system (for example, primary receptors and effectors-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabidiol, anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol) and the contributions of cannabinoid signaling to social functioning. Data are evaluated in the context of Research Domain Criteria constructs (for example, anxiety, chronic stress, reward learning, motivation, declarative and working memory, affiliation and attachment, and social communication) to enable interrogation of endogenous cannabinoid signaling in social functioning across diagnostic categories. The empirical evidence reviewed strongly supports the role for dysregulated cannabinoid signaling in the pathophysiology of social functioning deficits observed in brain disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder, schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder and bipolar disorder. Moreover, these findings indicate that the endogenous cannabinoid system holds exceptional promise as a biological marker of, and potential treatment target for, neuropsychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by impairments in social functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- D S Karhson
- Center for Interdisciplinary Brain Sciences Research, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - A Y Hardan
- Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - K J Parker
- Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
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15
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Anxiety, Stress, and Fear Response in Mice With Reduced Endocannabinoid Levels. Biol Psychiatry 2016; 79:858-868. [PMID: 25981172 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2015.03.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2014] [Revised: 03/20/2015] [Accepted: 03/27/2015] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Disruption of the endocannabinoid system through pharmacological or genetic invalidation of cannabinoid CB1 receptors has been linked to depression in humans and depression-like behaviors in mice. The two main endogenous cannabinoids, anandamide and 2-arachidonoyl glycerol (2-AG), are produced on demand from phospholipids. The pathways and enzymes involved in endocannabinoid biosynthesis thus play a major role in regulating the activity of this system. This study investigates the role of the main 2-AG producing enzyme diacylglycerol lipase α (DAGL-α). METHODS We generated and used knockout mice lacking DAGL-α (Dagla(-/-)) to assess the behavioral consequences of reduced endocannabinoid levels in the brain. We performed different behavior tests to determine anxiety- and depression-related behavioral changes in Dagla(-/-) mice. We also analyzed expression of genes related to the endocannabinoid system via real-time polymerase chain reaction and used the mitotic marker 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine to analyze adult neurogenesis. RESULTS Dagla(-/-) animals show an 80% reduction of brain 2-AG levels but also a reduction in cortical and amygdalar anandamide. The behavioral changes induced by Dagla deletion include a reduced exploration of the central area of the open field, a maternal neglect behavior, a fear extinction deficit, increased behavioral despair, increased anxiety-related behaviors in the light/dark box, and reduced hippocampal neurogenesis. Some of these behavioral changes resemble those observed in animals lacking the CB1 receptor. CONCLUSIONS Our findings demonstrate that the deletion of Dagla adversely affects the emotional state of animals and results in enhanced anxiety, stress, and fear responses.
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16
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Cathomas F, Hartmann MN, Seifritz E, Pryce CR, Kaiser S. The translational study of apathy-an ecological approach. Front Behav Neurosci 2015; 9:241. [PMID: 26441571 PMCID: PMC4563080 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2015.00241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2015] [Accepted: 08/24/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Apathy, a quantitative reduction in goal-directed behavior, is a prevalent symptom dimension with a negative impact on functional outcome in various neuropsychiatric disorders including schizophrenia and depression. The aim of this review is to show that interview-based assessment of apathy in humans and observation of spontaneous rodent behavior in an ecological setting can serve as an important complementary approach to already existing task-based assessment, to study and understand the neurobiological bases of apathy. We first discuss the paucity of current translational approaches regarding animal equivalents of psychopathological assessment of apathy. We then present the existing evaluation scales for the assessment of apathy in humans and propose five sub-domains of apathy, namely self-care, social interaction, exploration, work/education and recreation. Each of the items in apathy evaluation scales can be assigned to one of these sub-domains. We then show that corresponding, well-validated behavioral readouts exist for rodents and that, indeed, three of the five human apathy sub-domains have a rodent equivalent. In conclusion, the translational ecological study of apathy in humans and rodents is possible and will constitute an important approach to increase the understanding of the neurobiological bases of apathy and the development of novel treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flurin Cathomas
- Preclinical Laboratory for Translational Research into Affective Disorders (PLaTRAD), Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich Zurich, Switzerland ; Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Matthias N Hartmann
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich Zurich, Switzerland ; Laboratory for Social and Neural Systems Research, Department of Economics, University of Zurich Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Erich Seifritz
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich Zurich, Switzerland ; Neuroscience Center, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, University of Zurich Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Christopher R Pryce
- Preclinical Laboratory for Translational Research into Affective Disorders (PLaTRAD), Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich Zurich, Switzerland ; Neuroscience Center, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, University of Zurich Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Stefan Kaiser
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich Zurich, Switzerland ; Laboratory for Social and Neural Systems Research, Department of Economics, University of Zurich Zurich, Switzerland ; Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology, University of Zurich Zurich, Switzerland
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17
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Nesher E, Koman I, Gross M, Tikhonov T, Bairachnaya M, Salmon-Divon M, Levin Y, Gerlitz G, Michaelevski I, Yadid G, Pinhasov A. Synapsin IIb as a functional marker of submissive behavior. Sci Rep 2015; 5:10287. [PMID: 25998951 PMCID: PMC4441117 DOI: 10.1038/srep10287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2014] [Accepted: 04/09/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Dominance and submissiveness are important functional elements of the social hierarchy. By employing selective breeding based on a social interaction test, we developed mice with strong and stable, inheritable features of dominance and submissiveness. In order to identify candidate genes responsible for dominant and submissive behavior, we applied transcriptomic and proteomic studies supported by molecular, behavioral and pharmacological approaches. We clearly show here that the expression of Synapsin II isoform b (Syn IIb) is constitutively upregulated in the hippocampus and striatum of submissive mice in comparison to their dominant and wild type counterparts. Moreover, the reduction of submissive behavior achieved after mating and delivery was accompanied by a marked reduction of Syn IIb expression. Since submissiveness has been shown to be associated with depressive-like behavior, we applied acute SSRI (Paroxetine) treatment to reduce submissiveness in studied mice. We found that reduction of submissive behavior evoked by Paroxetine was paired with significantly decreased Syn IIb expression. In conclusion, our findings indicate that submissiveness, known to be an important element of depressive-like behavioral abnormalities, is strongly linked with changes in Syn IIb expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elimelech Nesher
- 1] Department of Molecular Biology. Ariel University, Ariel. Israel [2] Faculty of Life Sciences. Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan. Israel
| | - Igor Koman
- Department of Molecular Biology. Ariel University, Ariel. Israel
| | - Moshe Gross
- Department of Molecular Biology. Ariel University, Ariel. Israel
| | - Tatiana Tikhonov
- Department of Molecular Biology. Ariel University, Ariel. Israel
| | | | | | - Yishai Levin
- de Botton Institute for Protein Profiling, The Nancy and Stephen Grand Israel National Center for Personalized Medicine. Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot. Israel
| | - Gabi Gerlitz
- Department of Molecular Biology. Ariel University, Ariel. Israel
| | - Izhak Michaelevski
- 1] Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv. Israel [2] Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv. Israel
| | - Gal Yadid
- Faculty of Life Sciences. Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan. Israel
| | - Albert Pinhasov
- Department of Molecular Biology. Ariel University, Ariel. Israel
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18
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Abstract
Some of the earliest reports of the effects of cannabis consumption on humans were related to endocrine system changes. In this review, the effects of cannabinoids and the role of the CB1 cannabinoid receptor in the regulation of the following endocrine systems are discussed: the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, prolactin and oxytocin, thyroid hormone and growth hormone, and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Preclinical and human study results are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia J Hillard
- Neuroscience Research Center and Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA.
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19
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Sagheddu C, Muntoni AL, Pistis M, Melis M. Endocannabinoid Signaling in Motivation, Reward, and Addiction. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF NEUROBIOLOGY 2015; 125:257-302. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.irn.2015.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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20
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Abstract
The physiological and pathophysiological functions of the endocannabinoid system have been studied extensively using transgenic and targeted knockout mouse models. The first gene deletions of the cannabinoid CB(1) receptor were described in the late 1990s, soon followed by CB(2) and FAAH mutations in early 2000. These mouse models helped to elucidate the fundamental role of endocannabinoids as retrograde transmitters in the CNS and in the discovery of many unexpected endocannabinoid functions, for example, in the skin, bone and liver. We now have knockout mouse models for almost every receptor and enzyme of the endocannabinoid system. Conditional mutant mice were mostly developed for the CB(1) receptor, which is widely expressed on many different neurons, astrocytes and microglia, as well as on many cells outside the CNS. These mouse strains include "floxed" CB(1) alleles and mice with a conditional re-expression of CB(1). The availability of these mice made it possible to decipher the function of CB(1) in specific neuronal circuits and cell populations or to discriminate between central and peripheral effects. Many of the genetic mouse models were also used in combination with viral expression systems. The purpose of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of the existing genetic models and to summarize some of the most important discoveries that were made with these animals.
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MESH Headings
- Amidohydrolases/genetics
- Amidohydrolases/metabolism
- Animals
- Endocannabinoids/genetics
- Endocannabinoids/metabolism
- Gene Deletion
- Gene Expression Regulation
- Genotype
- Humans
- Hydrolysis
- Mice, Knockout
- Mice, Mutant Strains
- Monoacylglycerol Lipases/genetics
- Monoacylglycerol Lipases/metabolism
- Mutation
- Phenotype
- Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1/genetics
- Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1/metabolism
- Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2/genetics
- Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2/metabolism
- Signal Transduction/genetics
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Zimmer
- Institute of Molecular Psychiatry, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
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