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Amir Hamzah K, Turner N, Nichols D, Ney LJ. Advances in targeted liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry methods for endocannabinoid and N-acylethanolamine quantification in biological matrices: A systematic review. MASS SPECTROMETRY REVIEWS 2024. [PMID: 38958096 DOI: 10.1002/mas.21897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2024] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/15/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
Liquid chromatography paired with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) is the gold standard in measurement of endocannabinoid concentrations in biomatrices. We conducted a systematic review of literature to identify advances in targeted LC-MS/MS methods in the period 2017-2024. We found that LC-MS/MS methods for endocannabinoid quantification are relatively consistent both across time and across biomatrices. Recent advances have primarily been in three areas: (1) sample preparation techniques, specific to the chosen biomatrix; (2) the range of biomatrices tested, recently favoring blood matrices; and (3) the breadth of endocannabinoid and endocannabinoid-like analytes incorporated into assays. This review provides a summary of the recent literature and a guide for researchers looking to establish the best methods for quantifying endocannabinoids in a range of biomatrices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khalisa Amir Hamzah
- School of Psychology and Counselling, Department of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, Australia
| | - Natalie Turner
- The Centre for Children's Health Research, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, Australia
| | - David Nichols
- Central Science Laboratory, Science and Engineering, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Luke J Ney
- School of Psychology and Counselling, Department of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, Australia
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2
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Gowatch LC, Evanski JM, Ely SL, Zundel CG, Bhogal A, Carpenter C, Shampine MM, O'Mara E, Mazurka R, Barcelona J, Mayo LM, Marusak HA. Endocannabinoids and Stress-Related Neurospsychiatric Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Basal Concentrations and Response to Acute Psychosocial Stress. Cannabis Cannabinoid Res 2024. [PMID: 38683635 DOI: 10.1089/can.2023.0246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: Dysregulation of the endocannabinoid (eCB) system is implicated in various stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders (SRDs), including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In this systematic review and meta-analysis, our objectives were to characterize circulating anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) concentrations at rest and in response to acute laboratory-based psychosocial stress in individuals with SRDs and without (controls). Our primary aims were to assess the effects of acute psychosocial stress on eCB concentrations in controls (Aim 1), compare baseline (prestress) eCB concentrations between individuals with SRDs and controls (Aim 2), and explore differential eCB responses to acute psychosocial stress in individuals with SRDs compared with controls (Aim 3). Methods: On June 8, 2023, a comprehensive review of the MEDLINE (PubMed) database was conducted to identify original articles meeting inclusion criteria. A total of 1072, 1341, and 400 articles were screened for inclusion in Aims 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Results: Aim 1, comprised of seven studies in controls, revealed that most studies reported stress-related increases in AEA (86%, with 43% reporting statistical significance) and 2-AG (83%, though none were statistically significant except for one study in saliva). However, meta-analyses did not support these patterns (p's>0.05). Aim 2, with 20 studies, revealed that most studies reported higher baseline concentrations of both AEA (63%, with 16% reporting statistical significance) and 2-AG (60%, with 10% reporting statistical significance) in individuals with SRDs compared with controls. Meta-analyses confirmed these findings (p's<0.05). Aim 3, which included three studies, had only one study that reported statistically different stress-related changes in 2-AG (but not AEA) between individuals with PTSD (decrease) and controls (increase), which was supported by the meta-analysis (p<0.001). Meta-analyses showed heterogeneity across studies and aims (I2=14-97%). Conclusion: Despite substantial heterogeneity in study characteristics, samples, and methodologies, consistent patterns emerged, including elevated baseline AEA and 2-AG in individuals with SRDs compared with controls, as well as smaller stress-related increases in 2-AG in individuals with SRDs compared with controls. To consider eCBs as reliable biomarkers and potential intervention targets for SRDs, standardized research approaches are needed to clarify the complex relationships between eCBs, SRDs, and psychosocial stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leah C Gowatch
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Julia M Evanski
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Samantha L Ely
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Translational Neuroscience PhD Program, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Clara G Zundel
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Amanpreet Bhogal
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Carmen Carpenter
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - MacKenna M Shampine
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Emilie O'Mara
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Raegan Mazurka
- Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Nova Scotia Health, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Jeanne Barcelona
- Center for Health and Community Impact, College of Education, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Leah M Mayo
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute and Department of Psychiatry, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Hilary A Marusak
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Translational Neuroscience PhD Program, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Merrill Palmer Skillman Institute for Child and Family Development, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA
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Aukema RJ, Baglot SL, Scheufen J, Lightfoot SH, Hill MN. Circadian Influence on Acute Stress-induced Changes in Cortico-limbic Endocannabinoid Levels in Adult Male Rats. Neuroscience 2024; 537:84-92. [PMID: 38006961 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2023.11.026] [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: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/27/2023]
Abstract
The endocannabinoid (eCB) system plays an important role in regulating the stress response, including glucocorticoid release and the generation of avoidance behaviour. Its two major ligands, 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) and N-arachidonoylethanolamine (anandamide; AEA), are dynamically influenced by psychological stress to gate the generation of the stress response and facilitate recovery upon stress termination. Many biological systems exhibit circadian "daily" rhythms, including glucocorticoids and endocannabinoids, and the behavioural and endocrine impact of stress is modulated by the time of day. Nonetheless, most preclinical experiments investigating the interaction between stress and endocannabinoids occur in the light, "inactive" phase. We therefore tested if circadian phase influences stress-induced changes in eCB levels in the hippocampus (HIP), prefrontal cortex (PFC), and amygdala (AMY). Adult male rats were exposed to 15 min swim stress or immediately euthanized, and brains were collected. Testing occurred either early in the light or early in the dark phase of their cycle to compare circadian effects. We found that overall, stress decreased AEA in the AMY and HIP, with an effect in the PFC dependent on the time of day. Conversely, stress increased 2-AG in the AMY, with an effect in the PFC and HIP dependent on the time of day. This suggests that stress has a similar overall impact on eCB levels regardless of circadian phase, but that subtle differences may occur depending on the brain region, especially the PFC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert J Aukema
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4N1, Canada; Mathison Centre for Mental Health, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Samantha L Baglot
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4N1, Canada; Mathison Centre for Mental Health, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Jessica Scheufen
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4N1, Canada; Mathison Centre for Mental Health, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Savannah Hm Lightfoot
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4N1, Canada; Mathison Centre for Mental Health, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Matthew N Hill
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4N1, Canada; Mathison Centre for Mental Health, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4N1, Canada; Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4N1, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4N1, Canada.
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Nocheva H, Stoynev N, Vodenicharov V, Krastev D, Krastev N, Mileva M. Cannabinoid and Serotonergic Systems: Unraveling the Pathogenetic Mechanisms of Stress-Induced Analgesia. Biomedicines 2024; 12:235. [PMID: 38275406 PMCID: PMC10813752 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12010235] [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: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The perception of "stress" triggers many physiological and behavioral responses, collectively called the stress response. Such a complex process allows for coping with stress and also triggers severe pathology. Because of the multidirectional effect of stress on the body, multiple systems participate in its pathogenesis, with the endogenous cannabinoid and the serotoninergic ones among them. These two systems also take part in the pain perception decrease, known as stress-induced analgesia (SIA), which can then be taken as an indirect indicator of the stress response. The aim of our study was to study the changes in cold SIA (c-SIA) resulting from the exogenous activation of cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT, serotonin) receptor type 1A (5-HT1A). Various combinations of agonists and/or antagonists of CB1 and 5-HT1A, before or after 1 h of cold exposure, were applied, since we presumed that the exogenous activation of the receptors before the cold exposure would influence the pathogenesis of the stress response, while their activation after the stressful trigger would influence the later development. Our results show that the serotonergic system "maintained" c-SIA in the pre-stress treatment, while the cannabinoids' modulative effect was more prominent in the post-stress treatment. Here, we show the interactions of the two systems in the stress response. The interpretation and understanding of the mechanisms of interaction between CB1 and 5-HT1A may provide information for the prevention and control of adverse stress effects, as well as suggest interesting directions for the development of targeted interventions for the control of specific body responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hristina Nocheva
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Medical Faculty, Medical University, 2 Zdrave Str., 1431 Sofia, Bulgaria; (H.N.); (N.S.)
| | - Nikolay Stoynev
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Medical Faculty, Medical University, 2 Zdrave Str., 1431 Sofia, Bulgaria; (H.N.); (N.S.)
| | - Vlayko Vodenicharov
- Department of Epidemiology and Hygiene, Medical Faculty, Medical University, 2 Zdrave Str., 1431 Sofia, Bulgaria;
| | - Dimo Krastev
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, South-West University “Neofit Rilski”, Blagoevgrad, 66, Ivan Mihaylov Str., 2700 Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria;
| | - Nikolay Krastev
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University, 2, Zdrave Str., 1431 Sofia, Bulgaria;
| | - Milka Mileva
- Institute of Microbiology “Stephan Angeloff”, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 26, Acad. Georgi Bonchev Str., 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
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Fusse EJ, Scarante FF, Vicente MA, Marrubia MM, Turcato F, Scomparin DS, Ribeiro MA, Figueiredo MJ, Brigante TAV, Guimarães FS, Campos AC. Anxiogenic doses of rapamycin prevent URB597-induced anti-stress effects in socially defeated mice. Neurosci Lett 2024; 818:137519. [PMID: 37852528 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2023.137519] [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: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
Repeated exposure to psychosocial stress modulates the endocannabinoid system, particularly anandamide (AEA) signaling in brain regions associated with emotional distress. The mTOR protein regulates various neuroplastic processes in the brain disrupted by stress, including adult hippocampal neurogenesis. This kinase has been implicated in multiple effects of cannabinoid drugs and the anti-stress behavioral effects of psychoactive drugs. Therefore, our hypothesis is that enhancing AEA signaling via pharmacological inhibition of the fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) enzyme induces an anti-stress behavioral effect through an mTOR-dependent mechanism. To test this hypothesis, male C57Bl6 mice were exposed to social defeat stress (SDS) for 7 days and received daily treatment with either vehicle or different doses of the FAAH inhibitor, URB597 (0.1; 0.3; 1 mg/Kg), alone or combined with rapamycin. The results suggested that URB597 induced an inverted U-shaped dose-response curve in mice subjected to SDS (with the intermediate dose of 0.3 mg/kg being anxiolytic, and the higher tested dose of 1 mg/Kg being anxiogenic). In a second independent experiment, rapamycin treatment induced an anxiogenic-like response in control mice. However, in the presence of rapamycin, the anxiolytic dose of URB597 treatment failed to reduce stress-induced anxiety behaviors in mice. SDS exposure altered the hippocampal expression of the mTOR scaffold protein Raptor. Furthermore, the anxiogenic dose of URB597 decreased the absolute number of migrating doublecortin (DCX)-positive cells in the dentate gyrus, suggesting an anti-anxiety effect independent of newly generated/immature neurons. Therefore, our results indicate that in mice exposed to repeated psychosocial stress, URB597 fails to counteract the anxiogenic-like response induced by the pharmacological dampening of mTOR signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo J Fusse
- Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, 3900 Bandeirantes Ave, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Franciele F Scarante
- Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, 3900 Bandeirantes Ave, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Maria A Vicente
- Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, 3900 Bandeirantes Ave, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Mariana M Marrubia
- Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, 3900 Bandeirantes Ave, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Flávia Turcato
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, USA
| | - Davi S Scomparin
- Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, 3900 Bandeirantes Ave, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Melissa A Ribeiro
- Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, 3900 Bandeirantes Ave, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Maria J Figueiredo
- Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, 3900 Bandeirantes Ave, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Tamires A V Brigante
- Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, 3900 Bandeirantes Ave, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Francisco S Guimarães
- Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, 3900 Bandeirantes Ave, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Alline C Campos
- Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, 3900 Bandeirantes Ave, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.
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6
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Skupio U, Welte J, Serrat R, Eraso-Pichot A, Julio-Kalajzić F, Gisquet D, Cannich A, Delcasso S, Matias I, Fundazuri UB, Pouvreau S, Pagano Zottola AC, Lavanco G, Drago F, Ruiz de Azua I, Lutz B, Bellocchio L, Busquets-Garcia A, Chaouloff F, Marsicano G. Mitochondrial cannabinoid receptors gate corticosterone impact on novel object recognition. Neuron 2023; 111:1887-1897.e6. [PMID: 37098353 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.04.001] [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: 04/14/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 04/27/2023]
Abstract
Corticosteroid-mediated stress responses require the activation of complex brain circuits involving mitochondrial activity, but the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms are scantly known. The endocannabinoid system is implicated in stress coping, and it can directly regulate brain mitochondrial functions via type 1 cannabinoid (CB1) receptors associated with mitochondrial membranes (mtCB1). In this study, we show that the impairing effect of corticosterone in the novel object recognition (NOR) task in mice requires mtCB1 receptors and the regulation of mitochondrial calcium levels in neurons. Different brain circuits are modulated by this mechanism to mediate the impact of corticosterone during specific phases of the task. Thus, whereas corticosterone recruits mtCB1 receptors in noradrenergic neurons to impair NOR consolidation, mtCB1 receptors in local hippocampal GABAergic interneurons are required to inhibit NOR retrieval. These data reveal unforeseen mechanisms mediating the effects of corticosteroids during different phases of NOR, involving mitochondrial calcium alterations in different brain circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Urszula Skupio
- INSERM, U1215 NeuroCentre Magendie, Bordeaux 33077, France; University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux 33077, France
| | - Julia Welte
- INSERM, U1215 NeuroCentre Magendie, Bordeaux 33077, France; University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux 33077, France
| | - Roman Serrat
- INSERM, U1215 NeuroCentre Magendie, Bordeaux 33077, France; University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux 33077, France
| | - Abel Eraso-Pichot
- INSERM, U1215 NeuroCentre Magendie, Bordeaux 33077, France; University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux 33077, France
| | - Francisca Julio-Kalajzić
- INSERM, U1215 NeuroCentre Magendie, Bordeaux 33077, France; University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux 33077, France
| | - Doriane Gisquet
- INSERM, U1215 NeuroCentre Magendie, Bordeaux 33077, France; University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux 33077, France
| | - Astrid Cannich
- INSERM, U1215 NeuroCentre Magendie, Bordeaux 33077, France; University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux 33077, France
| | | | - Isabelle Matias
- INSERM, U1215 NeuroCentre Magendie, Bordeaux 33077, France; University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux 33077, France
| | - Unai B Fundazuri
- INSERM, U1215 NeuroCentre Magendie, Bordeaux 33077, France; University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux 33077, France
| | - Sandrine Pouvreau
- INSERM, U1215 NeuroCentre Magendie, Bordeaux 33077, France; University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux 33077, France
| | - Antonio C Pagano Zottola
- INSERM, U1215 NeuroCentre Magendie, Bordeaux 33077, France; University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux 33077, France; Institute for Cellular Biochemistry and Genetics, UMR 5095, Bordeaux 33077, France
| | - Gianluca Lavanco
- INSERM, U1215 NeuroCentre Magendie, Bordeaux 33077, France; University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux 33077, France
| | - Filippo Drago
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Biomedicine, Section of Pharmacology and Biochemistry, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Inigo Ruiz de Azua
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry, University Medical Center, Mainz 55131 Germany; Leibniz Institute for Resilience Research (LIR), Mainz 55122, Germany
| | - Beat Lutz
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry, University Medical Center, Mainz 55131 Germany; Leibniz Institute for Resilience Research (LIR), Mainz 55122, Germany
| | - Luigi Bellocchio
- INSERM, U1215 NeuroCentre Magendie, Bordeaux 33077, France; University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux 33077, France
| | - Arnau Busquets-Garcia
- Cell-Type Mechanisms in Normal and Pathological Behavior Research Group, Neuroscience Program, IMIM Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute, Barcelona 08003, Spain
| | - Francis Chaouloff
- INSERM, U1215 NeuroCentre Magendie, Bordeaux 33077, France; University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux 33077, France
| | - Giovanni Marsicano
- INSERM, U1215 NeuroCentre Magendie, Bordeaux 33077, France; University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux 33077, France.
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Ribeiro MA, Aguiar RP, Scarante FF, Fusse EJ, de Oliveira RMW, Guimarães FS, Campos AC. The Chronic Pharmacological Antagonism of the CB 1 Receptor is not Involved in the Behavioral Effects of Antidepressants Administered in Mice Submitted to Chronic Unpredictable Stress. Behav Brain Res 2023; 450:114502. [PMID: 37211222 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2023.114502] [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: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Several pieces of evidence suggest that the monoaminergic theory of depression cannot fully explain all behavioral and neuroplastic changes observed after antidepressant chronic treatment. Other molecular targets, such as the endocannabinoid system, have been associated with the chronic effects of these drugs. In the present study, we hypothesized that the behavioral and neuroplastic effects observed after repeated treatment with the antidepressants (AD) Escitalopram (ESC) or venlafaxine (VFX) in chronically stressed mice depend on CB1 receptor activation. Male mice submitted to the chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) paradigm for 21 days were treated with Esc (10mg/kg) or VFX (20mg/kg) once a day in the presence or not of AM251 (0,3mg/kg), a CB1 receptor antagonist/inverse agonist. At the end of the CUS paradigm, we conducted behavior tests to evaluate depressive- and anxiety-like behaviors. Our results demonstrated that chronic blockade of the CB1 receptor does not attenuate the antidepressant- or the anxiolytic-like effects of ESC nor VFX. ESC increased the expression of CB1 in the hippocampus, but AM251 did not change the pro-proliferative effects of ESC in the dentate gyrus or the increased expression of synaptophysin induced by this AD in the hippocampus. Our results suggest that CB1 receptors are not involved in behavioral and hippocampal neuroplastic effects observed after repeated antidepressant treatment in mice submitted to CUS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa A Ribeiro
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, State University of Maringá, 5790 Colombo Ave, Maringá, Paraná- Brazil
| | - Rafael P Aguiar
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, State University of Maringá, 5790 Colombo Ave, Maringá, Paraná- Brazil
| | - Franciele F Scarante
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, State University of Maringá, 5790 Colombo Ave, Maringá, Paraná- Brazil
| | - Eduardo J Fusse
- Mental Health Graduate Program- Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, 2650 Tenente Catão Roxo Ave, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Rúbia M W de Oliveira
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, State University of Maringá, 5790 Colombo Ave, Maringá, Paraná- Brazil
| | - Francisco S Guimarães
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, State University of Maringá, 5790 Colombo Ave, Maringá, Paraná- Brazil
| | - Alline C Campos
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, State University of Maringá, 5790 Colombo Ave, Maringá, Paraná- Brazil.
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Verharen JPH, de Jong JW, Zhu Y, Lammel S. A computational analysis of mouse behavior in the sucrose preference test. Nat Commun 2023; 14:2419. [PMID: 37105954 PMCID: PMC10140068 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38028-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The sucrose preference test (SPT) measures the relative preference of sucrose over water to assess hedonic behaviors in rodents. Yet, it remains uncertain to what extent the SPT reflects other behavioral components, such as learning, memory, motivation, and choice. Here, we conducted an experimental and computational decomposition of mouse behavior in the SPT and discovered previously unrecognized behavioral subcomponents associated with changes in sucrose preference. We show that acute and chronic stress have sex-dependent effects on sucrose preference, but anhedonia was observed only in response to chronic stress in male mice. Additionally, reduced sucrose preference induced by optogenetics is not always indicative of anhedonia but can also reflect learning deficits. Even small variations in experimental conditions influence behavior, task outcome and interpretation. Thus, an ostensibly simple behavioral task can entail high levels of complexity, demonstrating the need for careful dissection of behavior into its subcomponents when studying the underlying neurobiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeroen P H Verharen
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology and Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Johannes W de Jong
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology and Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Yichen Zhu
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology and Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Stephan Lammel
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology and Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.
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Dual Cannabinoid and Orexin Regulation of Anhedonic Behaviour Caused by Prolonged Restraint Stress. Brain Sci 2023; 13:brainsci13020314. [PMID: 36831860 PMCID: PMC9954020 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13020314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2022] [Revised: 01/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The endocannabinoid and orexin systems share many biological functions, including wakefulness, stress response, reward processing, and mood. While these systems work against one another with respect to arousal, chronic stress-induced downregulation of both systems often leads to anhedonia or the inability to experience pleasure from natural rewards. In the current study, a 24 h restraint stress test (24 h RST) reduced sucrose preference in adult male and female C57BL/6 mice. Prior to the stressor, subsets of mice were intraperitoneally administered cannabinoid and orexin receptor agonists, antagonists, and combinations of these drugs. Restraint mice that received the cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1R) antagonist SR141716A, orexin receptor type 2 (OX2R) agonist YNT-185, and the combination of SR141716A and YNT-185, exhibited less anhedonia compared to vehicle/control mice. Thus, the 24 h RST likely decreased orexin signaling, which was then restored by YNT-185. Receptor colocalization analysis throughout mesocorticolimbic brain regions revealed increased CB1R-OX1R colocalization from SR141716A and YNT-185 treatments. Although a previous study from our group showed additive cataleptic effects between CP55,940 and the dual orexin receptor antagonist (TCS-1102), the opposite combination of pharmacological agents proved additive for sucrose preference. Taken together, these results reveal more of the complex interactions between the endocannabinoid and orexin systems.
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10
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Chu L, Shu Z, Gu X, Wu Y, Yang J, Deng H. The Endocannabinoid System as a Potential Therapeutic Target for HIV-1-Associated Neurocognitive Disorder. Cannabis Cannabinoid Res 2023. [PMID: 36745405 DOI: 10.1089/can.2022.0267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Despite the successful introduction of combined antiretroviral therapy, the prevalence of mild to moderate forms of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) remains high. It has been demonstrated that neuronal injury caused by HIV is excitotoxic and inflammatory, and it correlates with neurocognitive decline in HAND. Endocannabinoid system (ECS) protects the body from excitotoxicity and neuroinflammation on demand and presents a promising therapeutic target for treating HAND. Here, we firstly discuss the potential pathogenesis of HAND. We secondly discuss the structural and functional changes in the ECS that are currently known among HAND patients. We thirdly discuss current clinical and preclinical findings concerning the neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory properties of the ECS among HAND patients. Fourth, we will discuss the interactions between the ECS and neuroendocrine systems, including the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) and hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axes under the HAND conditions. Materials and Methods: We have carried out a review of the literature using PubMed to summarize the current state of knowledge on the association between ECS and HAND. Results: The ECS may be ideally suited for modulation of HAND pathophysiology. Direct activation of presynaptic cannabinoid receptor 1 or reduction of cannabinoid metabolism attenuates HAND excitotoxicity. Chronic neuroinflammation associated with HAND can be reduced by activating cannabinoid receptor 2 on immune cells. The sensitivity of the ECS to HIV may be enhanced by increased cannabinoid receptor expression in HAND. In addition, indirect regulation of the ECS through modulation of hormone-related receptors may be a potential strategy to influence the ECS and also alleviate the progression of HAND due to the reciprocal inhibition of the ECS by the HPA and HPG axes. Conclusions: Taken together, targeting the ECS may be a promising strategy to alleviate the inflammation and neurodegeneration caused by HIV-1 infection. Further studies are required to clarify the role of endocannabinoid signaling in HIV neurotoxicity. Strategies promoting endocannabinoid signaling may slow down cognitive decline of HAND are proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liuxi Chu
- Department of Brain and Learning Science, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, China.,Key Laboratory of Child Development and Learning Science (Southeast University), Ministry of Education, Nanjing, China.,Department of Child Development and Education, Research Center for Learning Science, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zheng Shu
- Clinical Nutrition Department, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Xinpei Gu
- Department of Human Anatomy, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Taian, China
| | - Yan Wu
- Department of Brain and Learning Science, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, China.,Key Laboratory of Child Development and Learning Science (Southeast University), Ministry of Education, Nanjing, China.,Department of Child Development and Education, Research Center for Learning Science, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jin Yang
- Department of Child Development and Education, Research Center for Learning Science, Southeast University, Nanjing, China.,Department of Child and Adolescent Hygienics, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Huihua Deng
- Department of Brain and Learning Science, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, China.,Key Laboratory of Child Development and Learning Science (Southeast University), Ministry of Education, Nanjing, China.,Department of Child Development and Education, Research Center for Learning Science, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
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11
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Dargahi M, Karimi G, Etemad L, Alavi MS, Roohbakhsh A. Fatty acid amide hydrolase inhibitor URB597 suppressed conditioned and sensitized fear responses in a rat model of post-traumatic stress disorder. LEARNING AND MOTIVATION 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.lmot.2023.101872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
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12
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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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13
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Kondev V, Bluett R, Najeed M, Rosas-Vidal LE, Grueter BA, Patel S. Ventral hippocampal diacylglycerol lipase-alpha deletion decreases avoidance behaviors and alters excitation-inhibition balance. Neurobiol Stress 2022; 22:100510. [PMID: 36594052 PMCID: PMC9803955 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2022.100510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Revised: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The endogenous cannabinoid, 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), plays a key role in the regulation of anxiety- and stress-related behavioral phenotypes and may represent a novel target for the treatment of anxiety disorders. However, recent studies have suggested a more complex role for 2-AG signaling in the regulation of stress responsivity, including increases in acute fear responses after 2-AG augmentation under some conditions. Thus, 2-AG signaling within distinct brain regions and circuits could regulate anxiety-like behavior and stress responsivity in opposing manners. The ventral hippocampus (vHPC) is a critical region for emotional processing, anxiety-like behaviors, and stress responding. Here, we use a conditional knock-out of the 2-AG synthesis enzyme, diacylglycerol lipase α (DAGLα), to study the role of vHPC 2-AG signaling in the regulation of affective behavior. We show that vHPC DAGLα deletion decreases avoidance behaviors both basally and following an acute stress exposure. Genetic deletion of vHPC DAGLα also promotes stress resiliency, with no effect on fear acquisition, expression, or contextual fear generalization. Using slice electrophysiology, we demonstrate that vHPC DAGLα deletion shifts vHPC activity towards enhanced inhibition. Together, these data indicate endogenous 2-AG signaling in the vHPC promotes avoidance and increases stress reactivity, confirming the notion that 2-AG signaling within distinct brain regions may exert divergent effects on anxiety states and stress adaptability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronika Kondev
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Rebecca Bluett
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Mustafa Najeed
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Luis E. Rosas-Vidal
- Northwestern Center for Psychiatric Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Brad A. Grueter
- Department of Anesthesiology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Sachin Patel
- Northwestern Center for Psychiatric Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA,Corresponding author. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, USA.
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14
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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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15
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Kondev V, Morgan A, Najeed M, Winters ND, Kingsley PJ, Marnett L, Patel S. The Endocannabinoid 2-Arachidonoylglycerol Bidirectionally Modulates Acute and Protracted Effects of Predator Odor Exposure. Biol Psychiatry 2022; 92:739-749. [PMID: 35961791 PMCID: PMC9827751 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2022.05.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Revised: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Stress-related disorders are among the most prevalent psychiatric disorders, characterized by excess fear and enhanced avoidance of trauma triggers. Elucidating the mechanisms regulating temporally distinct aspects of innate and conditioned fear responses could facilitate novel therapeutic development for stress-related disorders. One potential target that has recently emerged is the endocannabinoid system, which has been reported to mediate the physiological response to stress and represents an important substrate underlying individual differences in stress susceptibility. METHODS Here, we exposed male and female CD-1 mice to an innate predator stressor, 2MT (2-methyl-2-thiazoline), to investigate the ability of endocannabinoid signaling to modulate temporally distinct innate and conditioned fear behaviors. RESULTS We found that 2MT exposure increased amygdala 2-AG (2-arachidonoylglycerol) content and selectively increased excitability in central, but not basolateral, amygdala neurons. We also found that pharmacological 2-AG augmentation during stress exposure exacerbated both acute freezing responses and central amygdala hyperexcitability via cannabinoid receptor type 1- and type 2-dependent mechanisms. Finally, 2-AG augmentation during stress exposure reduced long-term contextual conditioned freezing, and 2-AG augmentation 24 hours after stress exposure reduced conditioned avoidance behavior. CONCLUSIONS Our findings demonstrate a bidirectional effect of 2-AG augmentation on innate and conditioned fear behavior, with enhancement of 2-AG levels during stress promoting innate fear responses but ultimately resulting in long-term conditioned fear reduction. These data could reconcile contradictory data on the role of 2-AG in the regulation of innate and conditioned fear-related behavioral responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronika Kondev
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Amanda Morgan
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Mustafa Najeed
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Nathan D Winters
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Philip J Kingsley
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee; Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee; Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Lawrence Marnett
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee; Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee; Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Sachin Patel
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois.
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16
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Watts JJ, Guma E, Chavez S, Tyndale RF, Ross RA, Houle S, Wilson AA, Chakravarty M, Rusjan PM, Mizrahi R. In vivo brain endocannabinoid metabolism is related to hippocampus glutamate and structure - a multimodal imaging study with PET, 1H-MRS, and MRI. Neuropsychopharmacology 2022; 47:1984-1991. [PMID: 35906490 PMCID: PMC9485131 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-022-01384-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Revised: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Dysregulation of hippocampus glutamatergic neurotransmission and reductions in hippocampal volume have been associated with psychiatric disorders. The endocannabinoid system modulates glutamate neurotransmission and brain development, including hippocampal remodeling. In humans, elevated levels of anandamide and lower activity of its catabolic enzyme fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) are associated with schizophrenia diagnosis and psychotic symptom severity, respectively (Neuropsychopharmacol, 29(11), 2108-2114; Biol. Psychiatry 88 (9), 727-735). Although preclinical studies provide strong evidence linking anandamide and FAAH to hippocampus neurotransmission and structure, these relationships remain poorly understood in humans. We recruited young adults with and without psychotic disorders and measured FAAH activity, hippocampal glutamate and glutamine (Glx), and hippocampal volume using [11C]CURB positron emission tomography (PET), proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) and T1-weighted structural MRI, respectively. We hypothesized that higher FAAH activity would be associated with greater hippocampus Glx and lower hippocampus volume, and that these effects would differ in patients with psychotic disorders relative to healthy control participants. After attrition and quality control, a total of 37 participants (62% male) completed [11C]CURB PET and 1H-MRS of the left hippocampus, and 45 (69% male) completed [11C]CURB PET and hippocampal volumetry. Higher FAAH activity was associated with greater concentration of hippocampal Glx (F1,36.36 = 9.17, p = 0.0045; Cohen's f = 0.30, medium effect size) and smaller hippocampal volume (F1,44.70 = 5.94, p = 0.019, Cohen's f = 0.26, medium effect size). These effects did not differ between psychosis and healthy control groups (no group interaction). This multimodal imaging study provides the first in vivo evidence linking hippocampal Glx and hippocampus volume with endocannabinoid metabolism in the human brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy J Watts
- Research Centre, CHU Sainte-Justine, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Elisa Guma
- Computational Brain Anatomy (CoBrA) Laboratory, Cerebral Imaging Centre, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Developmental Neurogenomics Unit, Human Genetics Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Sofia Chavez
- Brain Health Imaging Centre, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Rachel F Tyndale
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Ruth A Ross
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Sylvain Houle
- Brain Health Imaging Centre, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Alan A Wilson
- Brain Health Imaging Centre, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Mallar Chakravarty
- Computational Brain Anatomy (CoBrA) Laboratory, Cerebral Imaging Centre, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Pablo M Rusjan
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Romina Mizrahi
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada.
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17
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Harrison LM, Tasker JG. Multiplexed Membrane Signaling by Glucocorticoids. CURRENT OPINION IN ENDOCRINE AND METABOLIC RESEARCH 2022; 26:100390. [PMID: 38075196 PMCID: PMC10703063 DOI: 10.1016/j.coemr.2022.100390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2024]
Abstract
Glucocorticoids exert pleiotropic effects either by a relatively slow mechanism involving binding to cytosolic/nuclear receptors and regulation of gene expression or by rapid activation of a putative membrane receptor and membrane signal transduction. Rapid glucocorticoid actions are initiated at the membrane and recruit intracellular signaling pathways that engage multiple downstream cellular targets, including lipid and gas intercellular messengers, membrane neurotransmitter receptor trafficking, nuclear glucocorticoid receptor activation and trafficking, and more. Thus, membrane glucocorticoid signaling diverges into a multiplexed array of signaling pathways to simultaneously regulate highly diverse cellular functions, giving these steroid hormones a broad range of rapid regulatory capabilities. In this review, we provide a brief overview of the growing body of knowledge of the cell signaling mechanisms of rapid glucocorticoid actions in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura M Harrison
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118
| | - Jeffrey G Tasker
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118
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18
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Circadian regulation of memory under stress: Endocannabinoids matter. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 138:104712. [PMID: 35643119 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104712] [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: 02/07/2022] [Revised: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Organisms ranging from plants to higher mammals have developed 24-hour oscillation rhythms to optimize physiology to environmental changes and regulate a plethora of neuroendocrine and behavioral processes, including neurotransmitter and hormone regulation, stress response and learning and memory function. Compelling evidence indicates that a wide array of memory processes is strongly influenced by stress- and emotional arousal-activated neurobiological systems, including the endocannabinoid system which has been extensively shown to play an integral role in mediating stress effects on memory. Here, we review findings showing how circadian rhythms and time-of-day influence stress systems and memory performance. We report evidence of circadian regulation of memory under stress, focusing on the role of the endocannabinoid system and highlighting its circadian rhythmicity. Our discussion illustrates how the endocannabinoid system mediates stress effects on memory in a circadian-dependent fashion. We suggest that endocannabinoids might regulate molecular mechanisms that control memory function under circadian and stress influence, with potential important clinical implications for both neurodevelopmental disorders and psychiatric conditions involving memory impairments.
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19
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Gallego-Landin I, García-Baos A, Castro-Zavala A, Valverde O. Reviewing the Role of the Endocannabinoid System in the Pathophysiology of Depression. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:762738. [PMID: 34938182 PMCID: PMC8685322 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.762738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Major depressive disorder is a high-impact, debilitating disease and it is currently considered the most prevalent mental illness. It is associated with disability, as well as increased morbidity and mortality. Despite its significant repercussions in our society, its exact pathophysiology remains unclear and therefore, available antidepressant treatment options are limited and, in some cases, ineffective. In the past years, research has focused on the development of a multifactorial theory of depression. Simultaneously, evidence supporting the role of the endocannabinoid system in the neurobiology of neuropsychiatric diseases has emerged. Studies have shown that the endocannabinoid system strongly impacts neurotransmission, and the neuroendocrine and neuroimmune systems, which are known to be dysfunctional in depressive patients. Accordingly, common antidepressants were shown to have a direct impact on the expression of cannabinoid receptors throughout the brain. Therefore, the relationship between the endocannabinoid system and major depressive disorder is worth consideration. Nevertheless, most studies focus on smaller pieces of what is undoubtedly a larger mosaic of interdependent processes. Therefore, the present review summarizes the existing literature regarding the role of the endocannabinoid system in depression aiming to integrate this information into a holistic picture for a better understanding of the relationship between the two.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ines Gallego-Landin
- Neurobiology of Behaviour Research Group (GReNeC—NeuroBio), Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alba García-Baos
- Neurobiology of Behaviour Research Group (GReNeC—NeuroBio), Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Adriana Castro-Zavala
- Neurobiology of Behaviour Research Group (GReNeC—NeuroBio), Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Olga Valverde
- Neurobiology of Behaviour Research Group (GReNeC—NeuroBio), Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
- Neuroscience Research Programme, IMIM-Hospital del Mar Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain
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20
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Ney LJ, Crombie KM, Mayo LM, Felmingham KL, Bowser T, Matthews A. Translation of animal endocannabinoid models of PTSD mechanisms to humans: Where to next? Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 132:76-91. [PMID: 34838529 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.11.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2021] [Revised: 11/21/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The endocannabinoid system is known to be involved in mechanisms relevant to PTSD aetiology and maintenance, though this understanding is mostly based on animal models of the disorder. Here we review how human paradigms can successfully translate animal findings to human subjects, with the view that substantially increased insight into the effect of endocannabinoid signalling on stress responding, emotional and intrusive memories, and fear extinction can be gained using modern paradigms and methods for assessing the state of the endocannabinoid system in PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke J Ney
- School of Psychological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Australia; School of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Australia.
| | - Kevin M Crombie
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas at Austin, United States
| | - Leah M Mayo
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Science, Linköping University, Sweden
| | - Kim L Felmingham
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Australia
| | | | - Allison Matthews
- School of Psychological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Australia
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21
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Topuz RD, Cetinkaya MZ, Erumit D, Duvan Aydemir K, Gunduz O, Karadag CH, Ulugol A. The role of endocannabinoid system and TRPV1 receptors in the antidepressant and anxiolytic effects of dipyrone in chronic unpredictable mild stress in mice. Eur J Pharmacol 2021; 908:174315. [PMID: 34270988 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2021.174315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Revised: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Although dipyrone is a widely used analgesic and antipyretic, its mechanism of action is not fully clarified. Recent studies have drawn attention to its central effects and its relationship with the endocannabinoid system. The endocannabinoid system plays important roles in processes such as anxiety, depression, fear, and learning-memory. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether endocannabinoid levels change in the amygdala in chronic unpredictable mild stress model in mice and whether cannabinoid and TRPV1 receptors mediate antidepressant and anxiolytic effects of dipyrone. Mice were submitted to chronic unpredictable mild stress protocol of 6-weeks, then behavioral test were performed. In the first part of the study, dipyrone was injected at doses of 150, 300, and 600 mg/kg (i.p.) during behavioral tests. In the second part, the CB1 antagonist AM 251 (1 mg/kg, i.p.), the CB2 antagonist AM630 (1 mg/kg, i.p.), and the TRPV1 antagonist capsazepine (3 mg/kg, i.p.) were administered alone or in combination with 300 mg/kg dipyrone to observe if these receptors mediate dipyrone effects. Endocannabinoid and N-acylethanolamines levels were measured by LC-MS/MS in amygdala. Our results showed that there were no changes in AEA, 2-AG, PEA, OAE levels in the amygdala in mice exposed to chronic unpredictable mild stress model; dipyrone exerted antidepressant and anxiolytic effects at doses of 300 and 600 mg/kg; its anxiolytic effect appears to be mediated via CB1 receptors, whereas TRPV1 receptors seems to mediate its antidepressant action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruhan Deniz Topuz
- Department of Medical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Trakya University, 22030, Edirne, Turkey.
| | - Mehmet Zahid Cetinkaya
- Department of Medical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Trakya University, 22030, Edirne, Turkey
| | - Dilsat Erumit
- Department of Medical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Trakya University, 22030, Edirne, Turkey
| | - Kubra Duvan Aydemir
- Department of Medical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Trakya University, 22030, Edirne, Turkey
| | - Ozgur Gunduz
- Department of Medical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Trakya University, 22030, Edirne, Turkey
| | - Cetin Hakan Karadag
- Department of Medical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Trakya University, 22030, Edirne, Turkey
| | - Ahmet Ulugol
- Department of Medical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Trakya University, 22030, Edirne, Turkey
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22
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Peripheral endocannabinoid serum level in association with repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) treatment in patients with major depressive disorder. Sci Rep 2021; 11:8867. [PMID: 33893327 PMCID: PMC8065048 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-87840-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is an effective and well tolerable biological intervention in major depressive disorder (MDD) contributing to rapid symptom improvement. Molecular mechanisms underpinning the therapeutic effects of rTMS have still not been clarified. Recently published animal data implicated relevant associations with changes in endocannabinoid (eCB) brain levels during rTMS treatment, human studies, however, have not been published. In our study we assessed the detailed phenotypic spectrum of MDD and serum 2-arachidnoylglycerol (2-AG) and anandamide (AEA) levels in 18 patients with treatment-resistant depression before, immediately following, and two weeks after completion of a 10-day rTMS treatment. We found significant associations between serum 2-AG level changes from pretreatment to 2 weeks after treatment and symptom reduction. The greater the increase of 2-AG levels, the greater the improvement of depressive (p = 0.031), anxious (p = 0.007) and anhedonia symptoms (p = 0.047). Here we report for the first time a significant association of human circulating eCB and antidepressant effect of rTMS. Our data may indicate that direct stimulation of targeted brain areas can rapidly alleviate depressive complaints via activation of the eCB system.
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Piggott VM, Lloyd SC, Matchynski JI, Perrine SA, Conti AC. Traumatic Stress, Chronic Ethanol Exposure, or the Combination, Alter Cannabinoid System Components in Reward and Limbic Regions of the Mouse Brain. Molecules 2021; 26:2086. [PMID: 33917316 PMCID: PMC8038692 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26072086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Revised: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The cannabinoid system is independently affected by stress and chronic ethanol exposure. However, the extent to which co-occurrence of traumatic stress and chronic ethanol exposure modulates the cannabinoid system remains unclear. We examined levels of cannabinoid system components, anandamide, 2-arachidonoylglycerol, fatty acid amide hydrolase, and monoacylglycerol lipase after mouse single-prolonged stress (mSPS) or non-mSPS (Control) exposure, with chronic intermittent ethanol (CIE) vapor or without CIE vapor (Air) across several brain regions using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry or immunoblotting. Compared to mSPS-Air mice, anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol levels in the anterior striatum were increased in mSPS-CIE mice. In the dorsal hippocampus, anandamide content was increased in Control-CIE mice compared to Control-Air, mSPS-Air, or mSPS-CIE mice. Finally, amygdalar anandamide content was increased in Control-CIE mice compared to Control-Air, or mSPS-CIE mice, but the anandamide content was decreased in mSPS-CIE compared to mSPS-Air mice. Based on these data we conclude that the effects of combined traumatic stress and chronic ethanol exposure on the cannabinoid system in reward pathway regions are driven by CIE exposure and that traumatic stress affects the cannabinoid components in limbic regions, warranting future investigation of neurotherapeutic treatment to attenuate these effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica M. Piggott
- Research & Development Service, John D. Dingell VA Medical Center, Detroit, MI 48201, USA; (V.M.P.); (S.C.L.); (J.I.M.); (S.A.P.)
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
| | - Scott C. Lloyd
- Research & Development Service, John D. Dingell VA Medical Center, Detroit, MI 48201, USA; (V.M.P.); (S.C.L.); (J.I.M.); (S.A.P.)
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
| | - James I. Matchynski
- Research & Development Service, John D. Dingell VA Medical Center, Detroit, MI 48201, USA; (V.M.P.); (S.C.L.); (J.I.M.); (S.A.P.)
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
| | - Shane A. Perrine
- Research & Development Service, John D. Dingell VA Medical Center, Detroit, MI 48201, USA; (V.M.P.); (S.C.L.); (J.I.M.); (S.A.P.)
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
| | - Alana C. Conti
- Research & Development Service, John D. Dingell VA Medical Center, Detroit, MI 48201, USA; (V.M.P.); (S.C.L.); (J.I.M.); (S.A.P.)
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
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24
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Excitation-Inhibition Imbalance Leads to Alteration of Neuronal Coherence and Neurovascular Coupling under Acute Stress. J Neurosci 2020; 40:9148-9162. [PMID: 33087471 PMCID: PMC7673010 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1553-20.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Revised: 10/08/2020] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
A single stressful event can cause morphologic and functional changes in neurons and even malfunction of vascular systems, which can lead to acute stress disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder. However, there is a lack of evidence regarding how acute stress impacts neuronal activity, the concurrent vascular response, and the relationship between these two factors, which is defined as neurovascular coupling. Here, using in vivo two-photon imaging, we found that NMDA-evoked calcium transients of excitatory neurons were impaired and that vasodilation of penetrating arterioles was concomitantly disrupted in acutely stressed male mice. Furthermore, acute stress altered the relationship between excitatory neuronal calcium coherence and vascular responses. By measuring NMDA-evoked excitatory and inhibitory neuronal calcium activity in acute brain slices, we confirmed that neuronal coherence both between excitatory neurons and between excitatory and inhibitory neurons was reduced by acute stress but restored by blockade of glucocorticoid receptor signaling. Furthermore, the ratio of sEPSCs to sIPSCs was altered by acute stress, suggesting that the excitation-inhibition balance was disrupted by acute stress. In summary, in vivo, ex vivo, and whole-cell recording studies demonstrate that acute stress modifies excitatory-inhibitory neuronal coherence, disrupts the excitation-inhibition balance, and causes consequent neurovascular coupling changes, providing critical insights into the neural mechanism of stress-induced disorders. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Acute stress can cause pathologic conditions, such as acute stress disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder, by affecting the functions of neurons and blood vessels. However, investigations into the impacts of acute stress on neurovascular coupling, the tight connection between local neural activity and subsequent blood flow changes, are lacking. Through investigations at the in vivo, ex vivo, and whole-cell recording levels, we found that acute stress alters the NMDA-evoked vascular response, impairs the function and coherence of excitatory and inhibitory neurons, and disrupts the excitatory and inhibitory balance. These novel findings provide insights into the relevance of the excitatory-inhibitory balance, neuronal coherence, and neurovascular coupling to stress-induced disorders.
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25
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Santori A, Morena M, Hill MN, Campolongo P. Hippocampal 2-Arachidonoyl Glycerol Signaling Regulates Time-of-Day- and Stress-Dependent Effects on Rat Short-Term Memory. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21197316. [PMID: 33023013 PMCID: PMC7582511 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21197316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2020] [Revised: 09/25/2020] [Accepted: 10/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Cannabinoids induce biphasic effects on memory depending on stress levels. We previously demonstrated that different stress intensities, experienced soon after encoding, impaired rat short-term recognition memory in a time-of-day-dependent manner, and that boosting endocannabinoid anandamide (AEA) levels restored memory performance. Here, we examined if two different stress intensities and time-of-day alter hippocampal endocannabinoid tone, and whether these changes modulate short-term memory. Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to an object recognition task and exposed, at two different times of the day (i.e., morning or afternoon), to low or high stress conditions, immediately after encoding. Memory retention was assessed 1 hr later. Hippocampal AEA and 2-arachidonoyl glycerol (2-AG) content and the activity of their primary degrading enzymes, fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) and monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL), were measured soon after testing. Results: Consistent with our previous findings, low stress impaired 1-hr memory performance only in the morning, whereas exposure to high stress impaired memory independently of testing time. Stress exposure decreased AEA levels independently of memory alterations. Interestingly, exposure to high stress decreased 2-AG content and, accordingly, increased MAGL activity, selectively in the afternoon. Thus, to further evaluate 2-AG’s role in the modulation of short-term recognition memory, rats were given bilateral intra-hippocampal injections of the 2-AG hydrolysis inhibitor KML29 immediately after training, then subjected to low or high stress conditions and tested 1 hr later. Conclusions: KML29 abolished the time-of-day-dependent impairing effects of stress on short-term memory, ameliorating short-term recognition memory performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Santori
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy;
- Neurobiology of Behavior Laboratory, Santa Lucia Foundation, 00143 Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Morena
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada; (M.M.); (M.N.H.)
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy & Psychiatry, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Matthew N. Hill
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada; (M.M.); (M.N.H.)
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy & Psychiatry, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Patrizia Campolongo
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy;
- Neurobiology of Behavior Laboratory, Santa Lucia Foundation, 00143 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +0039-06-4991-2450; Fax: +0039-06-4991-2480
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26
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Bedse G, Hill MN, Patel S. 2-Arachidonoylglycerol Modulation of Anxiety and Stress Adaptation: From Grass Roots to Novel Therapeutics. Biol Psychiatry 2020; 88:520-530. [PMID: 32197779 PMCID: PMC7486996 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2020.01.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2019] [Revised: 10/31/2019] [Accepted: 01/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Over the past decade there has been a surge of interest in the development of endocannabinoid-based therapeutic approaches for the treatment of diverse neuropsychiatric conditions. Although initial preclinical and clinical development efforts focused on pharmacological inhibition of fatty acid amide hydrolase to elevate levels of the endocannabinoid anandamide, more recent efforts have focused on inhibition of monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) to enhance signaling of the most abundant and efficacious endocannabinoid ligand, 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG). We review the biochemistry and physiology of 2-AG signaling and preclinical evidence supporting a role for this system in the regulation of anxiety-related outcomes and stress adaptation. We review preclinical evidence supporting MAGL inhibition for the treatment of affective, trauma-related, and stress-related disorders; describe the current state of MAGL inhibitor drug development; and discuss biological factors that could affect MAGL inhibitor efficacy. Issues related to the clinical advancement of MAGL inhibitors are also discussed. We are cautiously optimistic, as the field of MAGL inhibitor development transitions from preclinical to clinical and theoretical to practical, that pharmacological 2-AG augmentation could represent a mechanistically novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of affective and stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaurav Bedse
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee; Department of Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Mathew N Hill
- Department of Cell Biology, Hotchkiss Brain Institute and Mathison Center for Mental Health Research and Education, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Department of Anatomy and Psychiatry, Hotchkiss Brain Institute and Mathison Center for Mental Health Research and Education, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Sachin Patel
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee; Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee; Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee; Department of Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee.
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27
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Li SB, Borniger JC, Yamaguchi H, Hédou J, Gaudilliere B, de Lecea L. Hypothalamic circuitry underlying stress-induced insomnia and peripheral immunosuppression. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2020; 6:eabc2590. [PMID: 32917689 PMCID: PMC11206529 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abc2590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The neural substrates of insomnia/hyperarousal induced by stress remain unknown. Here, we show that restraint stress leads to hyperarousal associated with strong activation of corticotropin-releasing hormone neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of hypothalamus (CRHPVN) and hypocretin neurons in the lateral hypothalamus (HcrtLH). CRHPVN neurons directly innervate HcrtLH neurons, and optogenetic stimulation of LH-projecting CRHPVN neurons elicits hyperarousal. CRISPR-Cas9-mediated knockdown of the crh gene in CRHPVN neurons abolishes hyperarousal induced by stimulating LH-projecting CRHPVN neurons. Genetic ablation of Hcrt neurons or crh gene knockdown significantly counteracts restraint stress-induced hyperarousal. Single-cell mass cytometry by time of flight (CyTOF) revealed extensive changes to immune cell distribution and functional responses in peripheral blood during hyperarousal upon optogenetic stimulation of CRHPVN neurons simulating stress-induced insomnia. Our findings suggest both central and peripheral systems are synergistically engaged in the response to stress via CRHPVN circuitry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shi-Bin Li
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, 1201 Welch Road, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
- Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Jeremy C Borniger
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, 1201 Welch Road, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Hiroshi Yamaguchi
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, 1201 Welch Road, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Julien Hédou
- Department of Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Brice Gaudilliere
- Department of Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Luis de Lecea
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, 1201 Welch Road, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
- Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
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28
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Endocannabinoid-Epigenetic Cross-Talk: A Bridge toward Stress Coping. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21176252. [PMID: 32872402 PMCID: PMC7504015 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21176252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Revised: 08/26/2020] [Accepted: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
There is no argument with regard to the physical and psychological stress-related nature of neuropsychiatric disorders. Yet, the mechanisms that facilitate disease onset starting from molecular stress responses are elusive. Environmental stress challenges individuals’ equilibrium, enhancing homeostatic request in the attempt to steer down arousal-instrumental molecular pathways that underlie hypervigilance and anxiety. A relevant homeostatic pathway is the endocannabinoid system (ECS). In this review, we summarize recent discoveries unambiguously listing ECS as a stress coping mechanism. As stress evokes huge excitatory responses in emotional-relevant limbic areas, the ECS limits glutamate release via 2-arachydonilglycerol (2-AG) stress-induced synthesis and retrograde cannabinoid 1 (CB1)-receptor activation at the synapse. However, ECS shows intrinsic vulnerability as 2-AG overstimulation by chronic stress rapidly leads to CB1-receptor desensitization. In this review, we emphasize the protective role of 2-AG in stress-response termination and stress resiliency. Interestingly, we discuss ECS regulation with a further nuclear homeostatic system whose nature is exquisitely epigenetic, orchestrated by Lysine Specific Demethylase 1. We here emphasize a remarkable example of stress-coping network where transcriptional homeostasis subserves synaptic and behavioral adaptation, aiming at reducing psychiatric effects of traumatic experiences.
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29
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Protective effects of elevated anandamide on stress and fear-related behaviors: translational evidence from humans and mice. Mol Psychiatry 2020; 25:993-1005. [PMID: 30120421 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-018-0215-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2018] [Revised: 06/25/2018] [Accepted: 06/28/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a common, debilitating condition with limited treatment options. Extinction of fear memories through prolonged exposure therapy, the primary evidence-based behavioral treatment for PTSD, has only partial efficacy. In mice, pharmacological inhibition of fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) produces elevated levels of anandamide (AEA) and promotes fear extinction, suggesting that FAAH inhibitors may aid fear extinction-based treatments. A human FAAH 385C->A substitution encodes an FAAH enzyme with reduced catabolic efficacy. Individuals homozygous for the FAAH 385A allele may therefore offer a genetic model to evaluate the impact of elevations in AEA signaling in humans, helping to inform whether FAAH inhibitors have the potential to facilitate fear extinction therapy for PTSD. To overcome the challenge posed by low frequency of the AA genotype (appr. 5%), we prospectively genotyped 423 individuals to examine the balanced groups of CC, AC, and AA individuals (n = 25/group). Consistent with its loss-of-function nature, the A allele was dose dependently associated with elevated basal AEA levels, facilitated fear extinction, and enhanced the extinction recall. Moreover, the A-allele homozygotes were protected against stress-induced decreases in AEA and negative emotional consequences of stress. In a humanized mouse model, AA homozygous mice were similarly protected against stress-induced decreases in AEA, both in the periphery, and also in the amygdala and prefrontal cortex, brain structures critically involved in fear extinction and regulation of stress responses. Collectively, these data suggest that AEA signaling can temper aspects of the stress response and that FAAH inhibition may aid the treatment for stress-related psychiatric disorders, such as PTSD.
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30
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Longaretti A, Forastieri C, Gabaglio M, Rubino T, Battaglioli E, Rusconi F. Termination of acute stress response by the endocannabinoid system is regulated through lysine-specific demethylase 1-mediated transcriptional repression of 2-AG hydrolases ABHD6 and MAGL. J Neurochem 2020; 155:98-110. [PMID: 32141088 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15000] [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: 01/23/2020] [Revised: 02/26/2020] [Accepted: 03/02/2020] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Acute environmental stress rarely implies long-lasting neurophysiological and behavioral alterations. On the contrary, chronic stress exerts a potent toxic effect at the glutamatergic synapse whose altered physiology has been recognized as a core trait of neuropsychiatric disorders. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) plays an important role in the homeostatic response to acute stress. In particular, stress induces synthesis of endocannabinoid (eCB) 2-arachidonyl glycerol (2-AG). 2-AG stimulates presynaptic cannabinoid 1 (CB1) receptor contributing to stress response termination through inhibition of glutamate release, restraining thereafter anxiety arousal. We employ mouse models of stress response coupled to gene expression analyses, unravelling that in response to acute psychosocial stress in the mouse hippocampus, ECS-mediated synaptic modulation is enhanced via transcriptional repression of two enzymes involved in 2-AG degradation: α/β-hydrolase domain containing 6 (ABHD6) and monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL). Such a process is orchestrated by the epigenetic corepressor LSD1 who directly interacts with promoter regulatory regions of Abhd6 and Magl. Remarkably, negative transcriptional control of Abhd6 and Magl is lost in the hippocampus upon chronic psychosocial stress, possibly contributing to trauma-induced drift of synapse physiology toward uncontrolled glutamate transmission. We previously showed that in mice lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1) increases its hippocampal expression in response to psychosocial stress preventing excessive consolidation of anxiety-related plasticity. In this work, we unravel a nodal epigenetic modulation of eCB turn over, shedding new light on the molecular substrate of converging stress-terminating effects displayed by ECS and LSD1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Longaretti
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Segrate, MI, Italy
| | - Chiara Forastieri
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Segrate, MI, Italy
| | - Marina Gabaglio
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, Busto Arsizio, VA, Italy
| | - Tiziana Rubino
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, Busto Arsizio, VA, Italy
| | - Elena Battaglioli
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Segrate, MI, Italy
| | - Francesco Rusconi
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Segrate, MI, Italy
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31
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Bassir Nia A, Bender R, Harpaz-Rotem I. Endocannabinoid System Alterations in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Review of Developmental and Accumulative Effects of Trauma. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 3. [PMID: 31660473 PMCID: PMC6816276 DOI: 10.1177/2470547019864096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The role of the endocannabinoid system in stress-related psychiatric symptoms has
been investigated in many animal and human studies. Although most of these
studies consistently report long-lasting effects of prolonged stress and trauma
on the endocannabinoid system, the nature and direction of these changes are
controversial. We reviewed the available preclinical and clinical studies
investigating the endocannabinoid system alterations long after chronic stress
and trauma. We propose that the effects of prolonged stress or trauma on the
endocannabinoid system are different based on the developmental age of subjects
at the time of experiencing the trauma and its repetitiveness and accumulative
effects. The current literature consistently demonstrates decreased levels of
endocannabinoid ligands and receptors if the trauma occurs in childhood, whereas
decreased levels of endocannabinoid ligands and increased levels of cannabinoid
receptors are reported when trauma has happened in adulthood. It is important to
note that these changes are region-specific in the brain and also there are
important sex differences, which are beyond the scope of this review.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ricci Bender
- Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
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32
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Wirz L, Reuter M, Felten A, Schwabe L. An endocannabinoid receptor polymorphism modulates affective processing under stress. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2019; 13:1177-1189. [PMID: 30239920 PMCID: PMC6234318 DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsy083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2017] [Accepted: 09/17/2018] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Stress has a critical impact on affective and cognitive processing. Based on rodent data suggesting that endocannabinoid signaling via CB1 receptors serves as an emotional buffer, we hypothesized that a common variant of the gene coding for the CB1 receptor modulates affective processing under stress (CNR1; rs1049353 A vs G allele). Therefore, 139 participants, genotyped for this polymorphism, underwent a stress or control manipulation before they viewed emotionally neutral and negative pictures in a magnetic resonance imaging scanner. The ventromedial prefrontal cortex, known for its crucial role in emotion regulation, was significantly more activated in AA/AG vs GG genotype carriers when viewing negative pictures after stress. Under no-stress conditions, AA/AG genotype carriers showed enhanced crosstalk between the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex and the amygdala. We further assessed participants' 24 h-delayed memory for the presented pictures and found that memory performance correlated with amygdala and hippocampus activity and connectivity in stressed carriers of the AA/AG but not the GG genotype. These findings underline the modulatory role of the endocannabinoid system in stress effects on emotion and cognition and provide insights into the neural mechanisms that may contribute to the suggested protective effect of the AA/AG genotype of the CB1 receptor polymorphism against stress-related psychopathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Wirz
- Department of Cognitive Psychology, University of Hamburg, Hamburg Germany
| | - Martin Reuter
- Department of Differential and Biological Psychology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Andrea Felten
- Department of Differential and Biological Psychology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Lars Schwabe
- Department of Cognitive Psychology, University of Hamburg, Hamburg Germany
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33
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Gonda X, Petschner P, Eszlari N, Sutori S, Gal Z, Koncz S, Anderson IM, Deakin B, Juhasz G, Bagdy G. Effects of Different Stressors Are Modulated by Different Neurobiological Systems: The Role of GABA-A Versus CB1 Receptor Gene Variants in Anxiety and Depression. Front Cell Neurosci 2019; 13:138. [PMID: 31024264 PMCID: PMC6467241 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2019.00138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2019] [Accepted: 03/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Environmental stress and its interaction with genetic variation are key contributors in the development of depression and anxiety, yet there is a failure to identify replicable genetic variants and gene-interaction effects in the background of these psychiatric symptoms. Recently it has been reported that 5-HTTLPR and NOSI interact with financial but not other types of recent stressors in the development of depression. In the present study we investigated the interaction of GABRA6 rs3219151 and CNR1 rs7766029 in interaction with different types of recent life events on the presence of depression and anxiety in a large general population sample. 2191 participants completed the List of Threatening Experiences questionnaire which covers four categories of stressful life events (financial problems, illness/personal problems, intimate relationships, and social network) experienced over the previous year and the Brief Symptom Inventory for depression and anxiety symptoms. Participants were genotyped for rs3219151 and rs7766029. Data were analyzed with linear regression models with age and gender as covariates. Results indicated that CNR1 rs7766029 interacted significantly with financial but not other types of life events both in case of depression and anxiety symptoms. In contrast, GABRA6 rs3219151 showed a significant interaction with social network related life events in case of anxiety and with illness/personal problem-related life events in case of depression. Our results suggest that the psychological impact of different types of recent stress may be differentially modulated by distinct molecular genetic pathways. Furthermore, in case of certain genetic variants, the occurring psychiatric symptom may depend on the type of stress experienced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xenia Gonda
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.,MTA-SE Neuropsychopharmacology and Neurochemistry Research Group, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.,NAP-2-SE New Antidepressant Target Research Group, Hungarian Brain Research Program, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Peter Petschner
- MTA-SE Neuropsychopharmacology and Neurochemistry Research Group, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.,Department of Pharmacodynamics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Nora Eszlari
- NAP-2-SE New Antidepressant Target Research Group, Hungarian Brain Research Program, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.,Department of Pharmacodynamics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Sara Sutori
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zsofia Gal
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Szabolcs Koncz
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Ian M Anderson
- Neuroscience and Psychiatry Unit, Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biological, Medical and Human Sciences, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Bill Deakin
- Neuroscience and Psychiatry Unit, Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biological, Medical and Human Sciences, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom.,Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Gabriella Juhasz
- MTA-SE Neuropsychopharmacology and Neurochemistry Research Group, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.,Department of Pharmacodynamics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.,Neuroscience and Psychiatry Unit, Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biological, Medical and Human Sciences, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom.,SE-NAP 2 Genetic Brain Imaging Migraine Research Group, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Gyorgy Bagdy
- MTA-SE Neuropsychopharmacology and Neurochemistry Research Group, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.,NAP-2-SE New Antidepressant Target Research Group, Hungarian Brain Research Program, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.,Department of Pharmacodynamics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
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Hemisphere-dependent endocannabinoid system activity in prefrontal cortex and hippocampus of the Flinders Sensitive Line rodent model of depression. Neurochem Int 2019; 125:7-15. [PMID: 30716357 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2019.01.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2018] [Revised: 01/24/2019] [Accepted: 01/27/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Altered endocannabinoid (eCB) signalling is suggested as an important contributor to the pathophysiology of depression. To further elucidate this, we conducted a study using a genetic rat model of depression, the Flinders Sensitive Line (FSL), and their controls, the Flinders Resistant Line (FRL) rats. Plasma, right and left prefrontal cortex, and hippocampus were isolated from FSL and FRL rats. We analyzed each region for the eCB anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) levels by liquid chromatography/multiple reaction monitoring (LC/MRM), mRNA and protein levels of the cannabinoid type 1 receptor (CB1R), fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) and monoacyl glycerol lipase (MAGL) by real time qPCR and Western blotting. Content of 2-AG was lower in the left side of the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex in FSL rats compared to FRL rats. Inversely, levels of AEA were higher in right hippocampus than in left hippocampus. In plasma, AEA levels were increased and 2-AG decreased. Cannabinoid receptor 1 (Cnr1), Faah and Magl mRNA levels were prominently decreased in right prefrontal cortex of FSL rats as compared to FRL rats. Protein expression of CB1R and FAAH were decreased in left hippocampus. In summary, our data suggest a decreased eCB signalling in the FSL rats, which could contribute to the depressive-like behaviour. Interestingly, the altered eCB system activity appear to be hemisphere-specific in the limbic regions. Our study support the existing literature and showed altered eCB system activity in this particular animal model of depression.
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Modulation of the endocannabinoid system by sex hormones: Implications for posttraumatic stress disorder. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2018; 94:302-320. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2018] [Revised: 07/10/2018] [Accepted: 07/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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36
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Poleszak E, Wośko S, Sławińska K, Szopa A, Wróbel A, Serefko A. Cannabinoids in depressive disorders. Life Sci 2018; 213:18-24. [PMID: 30290188 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2018.09.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2018] [Revised: 09/26/2018] [Accepted: 09/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Cannabis sativa is one of the most popular recreational and medicinal plants. Benefits from use of cannabinoid agents in epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and others have been suggested. It seems that the endocannabinoid system is also involved in the pathogenesis and treatment of depression, though its role in this mental disease has not been fully understood yet. Both the pro- and antidepressant activity have been reported after cannabis consumption and a number of pre-clinical studies have demonstrated that both agonist and antagonist of the endocannabinoid receptors act similarly to antidepressants. Responses to the cannabinoid agents are relatively fast, and most probably, the noradrenergic, serotoninergic, glutamatergic neurotransmission, neuroprotective activity, as well as modulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis are implicated in the observed effects. Based on the published data, the endocannabinoid system evidently gives novel ideas and options in the field of antidepressant treatment, however further studies are needed to determine which group of patients could benefit from this type of therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ewa Poleszak
- Chair and Department of Applied Pharmacy, Medical University of Lublin, Chodźki 1, PL, 20-093 Lublin, Poland.
| | - Sylwia Wośko
- Chair and Department of Applied Pharmacy, Medical University of Lublin, Chodźki 1, PL, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
| | - Karolina Sławińska
- Chair and Department of Applied Pharmacy, Medical University of Lublin, Chodźki 1, PL, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
| | - Aleksandra Szopa
- Chair and Department of Applied Pharmacy, Medical University of Lublin, Chodźki 1, PL, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
| | - Andrzej Wróbel
- Second Department of Gynecology, Medical University of Lublin, Jaczewskiego 8, PL, 20-090 Lublin, Poland
| | - Anna Serefko
- Chair and Department of Applied Pharmacy, Medical University of Lublin, Chodźki 1, PL, 20-093 Lublin, Poland.
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Russell AL, Tasker JG, Lucion AB, Fiedler J, Munhoz CD, Wu TYJ, Deak T. Factors promoting vulnerability to dysregulated stress reactivity and stress-related disease. J Neuroendocrinol 2018; 30:e12641. [PMID: 30144202 PMCID: PMC6181794 DOI: 10.1111/jne.12641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2017] [Revised: 08/07/2018] [Accepted: 08/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Effective coordination of the biological stress response is integral for the behavioural well-being of an organism. Stress reactivity is coordinated by an interplay of the neuroendocrine system and the sympathetic nervous system. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis plays a key role in orchestrating the bodily responses to stress, and the activity of the axis can be modified by a wide range of experiential events. This review focuses on several factors that influence subsequent HPA axis reactivity. Some of these factors include early-life adversity, exposure to chronic stress, immune activation and traumatic brain injury. The central premise is that each of these experiences serves as a general vulnerability factor that accelerates future HPA axis reactivity in ways that make individuals more sensitive to stress challenges, therefore feeding forward into the exacerbation of ongoing (or greater susceptibility toward) future stress-related disease states, especially as they pertain to negative affect and overall brain health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley L Russell
- Program in Neuroscience, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, Maryland
- Center for Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Jeffrey G Tasker
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans, Los Angeles
| | - Aldo B Lucion
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Basic Health Sciences (ICBS), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Jenny Fiedler
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Carolina D Munhoz
- Deparment of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedical Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Tao-Yiao John Wu
- Program in Neuroscience, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, Maryland
- Center for Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Bethesda, Maryland
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Terrence Deak
- Developmental Exposure Alcohol Research Center (DEARC), Department of Psychology, Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York
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38
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Endocannabinoid system, stress and HPA axis. Eur J Pharmacol 2018; 834:230-239. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2018.07.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2018] [Accepted: 07/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Role of endocannabinoids in the hippocampus and amygdala in emotional memory and plasticity. Neuropsychopharmacology 2018; 43:2017-2027. [PMID: 29977073 PMCID: PMC6098035 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-018-0135-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2018] [Revised: 06/19/2018] [Accepted: 06/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is characterized by the reexperiencing of a traumatic event and is associated with slower extinction of fear responses. Impaired extinction of fearful associations to trauma-related cues may interfere with treatment response, and extinction deficits may be premorbid risk factors for the development of PTSD. We examined the effects of exposure to a severe footshock followed by situational reminders (SRs) on extinction, plasticity, and endocannabinoid (eCB) content and activity in the hippocampal CA1 area and basolateral amygdala (BLA). We also examined whether enhancing eCB signaling before extinction, using the fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) inhibitor URB597, could prevent the shock/SRs-induced effects on fear response and plasticity. URB597 administered systemically (0.3 mg/kg) or locally into the CA1 or BLA (0.1 µg/side) prior to extinction decreased fear retrieval and this effect persisted throughout extinction training and did not recuperate during spontaneous recovery. A low dose of the CB1 receptor antagonist AM251 (0.3 mg/kg i.p. or 0.01 µg/0.5 µl intra-CA1 or intra-BLA) blocked these effects suggesting that the effects of URB597 were CB1 receptor-dependent. Exposure to shock and reminders induced behavioral metaplasticity with opposite effects on long-term potentiation (LTP) in the hippocampus (impairment) and the BLA (enhancement). URB597 was found to prevent the opposite shock/SR-induced metaplasticity in hippocampal and BLA-LTP. Exposure to shock and reminders might cause variation in endogenous cannabinoid levels that could affect fear-circuit function. Indeed, exposure to shock and SRs affected eCB content: increased 2-arachidonoyl-glycerol (2-AG) and N-arachidonylethanolamine (AEA) levels in the CA1, decreased serum and BLA AEA levels while shock exposure increased FAAH activity in the CA1 and BLA. FAAH inhibition before extinction abolished fear and modulated LTP in the hippocampus and amygdala, brain regions pertinent to emotional memory. The findings suggest that targeting the eCB system before extinction may be beneficial in fear memory attenuation and these effects may involve metaplasticity in the CA1 and BLA.
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Sticht MA, Lau DJ, Keenan CM, Cavin JB, Morena M, Vemuri VK, Makriyannis A, Cravatt BF, Sharkey KA, Hill MN. Endocannabinoid regulation of homeostatic feeding and stress-induced alterations in food intake in male rats. Br J Pharmacol 2018; 176:1524-1540. [PMID: 30051485 DOI: 10.1111/bph.14453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2017] [Revised: 06/20/2018] [Accepted: 06/26/2018] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Stress is known to reduce food intake. Many aspects of the stress response and feeding are regulated by the endocannabinoid system, but the roles of anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoyl glycerol (2-AG) in stress-induced anorexia are unclear. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Effects of acute restraint stress on endocannabinoids were investigated in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Systemic and central pharmacological inhibition of fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) or monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) was used to assess the effects of elevated AEA and 2-AG on homeostatic feeding and on food consumption after stress. Animals were pretreated with the FAAH inhibitor, PF-04457845, or the MAGL inhibitor, MJN110, before 2 h acute restraint stress or 2 h homecage period without food. KEY RESULTS Restraint stress decreased hypothalamic and circulating AEA, with no effect in the gastrointestinal tract, while 2-AG content in the jejunum (but not duodenum) was reduced. PF-04457845 (30 μg), given i.c.v., attenuated stress-induced anorexia via CB1 receptors, but reduced homeostatic feeding in unstressed animals through an unknown mechanism. On the other hand, systemic administration of MJN110 (10 mg·kg-1 ) reduced feeding, regardless of stress or feeding status and inhibited basal intestinal transit in unstressed rats. The ability of MAGL inhibition to reduce feeding in combination with stress was independent of CB1 receptor signalling in the gut as the peripherally restricted CB1 receptor antagonist, AM6545 did not block this effect. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Our data reveal diverse roles for 2-AG and AEA in homeostatic feeding and changes in energy intake following stress. LINKED ARTICLES This article is part of a themed section on 8th European Workshop on Cannabinoid Research. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v176.10/issuetoc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin A Sticht
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.,Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research and Education, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.,Dept. of Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.,Dept. of Psychiatry, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.,Dept. of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - David J Lau
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.,Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research and Education, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.,Dept. of Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.,Dept. of Psychiatry, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Catherine M Keenan
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.,Dept. of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Jean-Baptiste Cavin
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.,Dept. of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Maria Morena
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.,Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research and Education, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.,Dept. of Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.,Dept. of Psychiatry, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | | | | | - Benjamin F Cravatt
- The Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology and Dept. of Chemical Physiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Keith A Sharkey
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.,Dept. of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Matthew N Hill
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.,Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research and Education, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.,Dept. of Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.,Dept. of Psychiatry, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
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41
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Deficient endocannabinoid signaling in the central amygdala contributes to alcohol dependence-related anxiety-like behavior and excessive alcohol intake. Neuropsychopharmacology 2018; 43:1840-1850. [PMID: 29748627 PMCID: PMC6046053 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-018-0055-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2017] [Revised: 03/22/2018] [Accepted: 03/22/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Negative emotional states that are associated with excessive alcohol intake, particularly anxiety-like states, have been linked to opponent processes in the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA), affecting stress-related transmitters and monoamines. This study extends these observations to include endocannabinoid signaling in alcohol-dependent animals. Rats and mice were exposed to chronic intermittent alcohol with vapor inhalation or liquid diet to induce dependence. In vivo microdialysis was used to estimate interstitial concentrations of endocannabinoids [N-arachidonoylethanolamine (anandamide; AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG)] and amino acids (glutamate and GABA) in rat CeA. Additionally, we evaluated the inhibition of endocannabinoids clearance enzymes [monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) and fatty acid amide hydrolase] on anxiety-like behavior and alcohol consumption in alcohol-dependent rats and mice. Results revealed that alcohol dependence produced decreases in baseline 2-AG dialysate levels and increases in baseline levels of glutamate and GABA. Acute alcohol abstinence induced an enhancement of these dependence-induced effects and the levels of 2-AG and GABA were restored upon alcohol re-exposure. Additional studies showed that the increased CeA 2-AG levels induced by restraint stress and alcohol self-administration were blunted in alcohol-dependent rats. Pharmacological studies in rats and mice showed that anxiety-like behavior and alcohol consumption were increased in alcohol-dependent animals, and these behavioral effects were attenuated mainly by MAGL inhibitors [MJN110 (10 and 20 mg/kg) in rats and JZL184 (1 and 3 mg/kg) in mice]. The present results suggest a key role for endocannabinoid signaling in motivational neuroadaptations during alcohol dependence, in which a deficiency in CeA 2-AG signaling in alcohol-dependent animals is linked to stress and excessive alcohol consumption.
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Cavener VS, Gaulden A, Pennipede D, Jagasia P, Uddin J, Marnett LJ, Patel S. Inhibition of Diacylglycerol Lipase Impairs Fear Extinction in Mice. Front Neurosci 2018; 12:479. [PMID: 30108473 PMCID: PMC6080414 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2018.00479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2018] [Accepted: 06/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Elucidating the underlying molecular mechanisms regulating fear and extinction learning may offer insights that can lead to novel treatments for debilitating anxiety and trauma-related disorders including posttraumatic stress disorder. The endocannabinoid (eCB) system is a retrograde inhibitory signaling pathway involved in regulating central responses to stress. The eCB 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) has recently been proposed to serve as a homeostatic signal mitigating adverse effects of stress exposure, however, less well understood is 2-AG’s role in fear learning and fear extinction. In this study, we have sought to explore 2-AG’s role in fear conditioning and fear extinction by disrupting 2-AG synthesis utilizing the DAGL inhibitor (DO34) and DAGLα knock-out mice (DAGLα−/−). We found that DAGLα−/− mice, and male and female C57B6/J mice treated with DO34, exhibited impairment in extinction learning in an auditory cue fear-conditioning paradigm. DO34 did not increase unconditioned freezing. Interestingly, inhibition of fatty-acid amide hydrolase was not able to restore normal fear extinction in DO34-treated mice suggesting increased Anandamide cannot compensate for deficient 2-AG signaling in the regulation of fear extinction. Moreover, augmentation of CB1R signaling with tetrahydrocannabinol also failed to restore normal fear extinction in DO34-treated mice. Overall, these data support the hypothesis that DAGLα plays an important role in fear extinction learning. Although genetic and pharmacological disruption of DAGL activity causes widespread lipidomic remodeling, these data combined with previous studies putatively suggest that deficient 2-AG signaling could be a susceptibility endophenotype for the development of trauma-related psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria S Cavener
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States.,Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Andrew Gaulden
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Dante Pennipede
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Puja Jagasia
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Jashim Uddin
- Departments of Biochemistry, Chemistry, and Pharmacology, A.B. Hancock Jr. Memorial Laboratory for Cancer Research, Vanderbilt Institute of Chemical Biology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Lawrence J Marnett
- Departments of Biochemistry, Chemistry, and Pharmacology, A.B. Hancock Jr. Memorial Laboratory for Cancer Research, Vanderbilt Institute of Chemical Biology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Sachin Patel
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States.,Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
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43
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Circulating endocannabinoids and affect regulation in human subjects. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2018; 92:66-71. [PMID: 29627714 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2017] [Revised: 03/15/2018] [Accepted: 03/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The endocannabinoid (EC) system influences a wide variety of neurobiological processes including affect and emotionality as well as other neuropsychiatric functions. In this study we examined the relationship of circulating endocannabinoids [anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG)] with affect and emotionality in 175 individuals with (n = 115) and without (n = 60) mood, anxiety, and/or personality disorders. Circulating AEA levels displayed a modest, though statistically significant, inverse relationship with a composite measure of affect regulation (β = - 0.264, p = 0.009), due to its relationship with affect intensity (β = - 0.225, p = 0.021) across all study participants. Neither AEA nor 2-AG level differed as a function of any syndromal/personality disorder and neither correlated significantly with state depression or state anxiety scores. These data suggest that circulating levels endocannabinoids may play a role in emotionality across individuals regardless of defined psychiatric disorder.
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Atsak P, Morena M, Schoenmaker C, Tabak E, Oomen CA, Jamil S, Hill MN, Roozendaal B. Glucocorticoid-endocannabinoid uncoupling mediates fear suppression deficits after early - Life stress. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2018. [PMID: 29524763 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.02.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Early-life stress (ELS) creates life-long vulnerability to stress-related anxiety disorders through altering stress and fear systems in the brain. The endocannabinoid system has emerged as an important regulator of the stress response through a crosstalk with the glucocorticoid system, yet whether it plays a role in the persistent effects of ELS remains unanswered. By combining, behavioral, pharmacological and biochemical approaches in adult male rats, we examined the impact of ELS on the regulation of endocannabinoid function by stress and glucocorticoids. We employed a postnatal limited-nesting/bedding induced ELS between postnatal days 2-9 in rats. Exposure to postnatal ELS compromised the ability of both acute stress and glucocorticoid administration to mobilize the endocannabinoid ligand 2-arachidonoyl glycerol (2-AG) in the hippocampus of adult male rats. These findings suggest that ELS compromises the coupling of the glucocorticoid and endocannabinoid systems in the hippocampus. Since 2-AG signaling is essential in mediating glucocorticoid-induced suppression of fear recall, we further examined the impact of ELS on the ability of glucocorticoids to suppress fear memory recall. While ELS did not affect normative fear recall, it impaired the ability of glucocorticoids to dampen fear recall. Notably, bypassing glucocorticoids and directly amplifying hippocampal 2-AG signaling with a monoacyl glycerol lipase inhibitor produced a suppression of fear memory recall in animals exposed to ELS. These findings suggest that ELS results in an uncoupling of glucocorticoid-endocannabinoid signaling in the hippocampus, which, in turn, relates to alterations in stress regulation of memory recall. These data provide compelling evidence that ELS-induced deficits in the glucocorticoid-endocannabinoid coupling following stress could predispose susceptibility to stress-related psychopathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piray Atsak
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, 6525 EN Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - Maria Morena
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Chantal Schoenmaker
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, 6525 EN Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Emma Tabak
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, 6525 EN Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Charlotte A Oomen
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, 6525 EN Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Sara Jamil
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, 6525 EN Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Matthew N Hill
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Benno Roozendaal
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, 6525 EN Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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45
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Enhancing Endocannabinoid Neurotransmission Augments The Efficacy of Extinction Training and Ameliorates Traumatic Stress-Induced Behavioral Alterations in Rats. Neuropsychopharmacology 2018; 43:1284-1296. [PMID: 29265107 PMCID: PMC5916373 DOI: 10.1038/npp.2017.305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2017] [Revised: 12/09/2017] [Accepted: 12/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Exposure to a traumatic event may result in the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Endocannabinoids are crucial modulators of the stress response, interfere with excessive retrieval and facilitate the extinction of traumatic memories. Exposure therapy, combined with pharmacotherapy, represents a promising tool for PTSD treatment. We investigated whether pharmacological manipulations of the endocannabinoid system during extinction learning ameliorates the behavioral changes induced by trauma exposure. Rats were exposed to inescapable footshocks paired with social isolation, a risk factor for PTSD. One week after trauma, rats were subjected to three spaced extinction sessions, mimicking human exposure therapy. The anandamide hydrolysis inhibitor URB597, the 2-arachidonoylglycerol hydrolysis inhibitor JZL184 or the cannabinoid agonist WIN55,212-2 were administered before or after the extinction sessions. Rats were tested for extinction retention 16 or 36 days after trauma and 24-h later for social interaction. Extinction training alone reduced fear of the trauma-associated context but did not restore normal social interaction. Traumatized animals not exposed to extinction sessions exhibited reductions in hippocampal anandamide content with respect to home-cage controls. Noteworthy, all drugs exerted beneficial effects, but URB597 (0.1 mg/kg) induced the best improvements by enhancing extinction consolidation and restoring normal social behavior in traumatized rats through indirect activation of CB1 receptors. The ameliorating effects remained stable long after treatment and trauma exposure. Our findings suggest that drugs potentiating endocannabinoid neurotransmission may represent promising tools when combined to exposure-based psychotherapies in the treatment of PTSD.
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Kaczocha M, Azim S, Nicholson J, Rebecchi MJ, Lu Y, Feng T, Romeiser JL, Reinsel R, Rizwan S, Shodhan S, Volkow ND, Benveniste H. Intrathecal morphine administration reduces postoperative pain and peripheral endocannabinoid levels in total knee arthroplasty patients: a randomized clinical trial. BMC Anesthesiol 2018; 18:27. [PMID: 29486720 PMCID: PMC6389072 DOI: 10.1186/s12871-018-0489-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2017] [Accepted: 02/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The primary goal of this study was to determine whether administration of intrathecal morphine reduces postoperative pain. The secondary goal was to determine the effect of intrathecal morphine upon circulating levels of the weakly analgesic endocannabinoids, anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), and the related lipids palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) and oleoylethanolamide (OEA). Methods Forty two total knee arthroplasty (TKA) patients were enrolled in a prospective, double-blinded, randomized study. The intervention consisted of intrathecal morphine (200 μg) or placebo administered at the time of the spinal anesthesia. Postoperative pain was measured during the first 4 h after surgery while serum levels of AEA, 2-AG, PEA, OEA, and cortisol were measured at baseline and 4 h after surgery. Results Administration of intrathecal morphine reduced postoperative pain 4 h after TKA surgery compared to placebo (p = 0.005) and reduced postoperative systemic opioid consumption (p = 0.001). At baseline, intrathecal morphine led to a significant reduction in AEA, 2-AG, and OEA levels but did not affect PEA or cortisol levels. In patients administered intrathecal placebo, 2-AG levels were elevated 4 h after surgery; whereas patients receiving intrathecal morphine showed reductions in AEA, PEA, and OEA when compared to placebo. At 4 h after TKA surgery cortisol levels were significantly elevated in the placebo group and reduced in those receiving morphine. Conclusions These results indicate that intrathecal morphine reduces postoperative pain in TKA patients. Furthermore, activation of central opioid receptors negatively modulates the endocannabinoid tone, suggesting that potent analgesics may reduce the stimulus for production of peripheral endocannabinoids. This study is the first to document the existence of rapid communication between the central opioid and peripheral endocannabinoid systems in humans. Trial registration This trial was registered retrospectively. Trial registry: NCT02620631. Study to Examine Pain Relief With Supplemental Intrathecal Morphine in TKA Patients, NCT02620631, 12/03/2015.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Kaczocha
- Department of Anesthesiology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA.
| | - Syed Azim
- Department of Anesthesiology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - James Nicholson
- Department of Orthopaedics, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Mario J Rebecchi
- Department of Anesthesiology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Yong Lu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Tian Feng
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Statistics, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Jamie L Romeiser
- Department of Anesthesiology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Ruth Reinsel
- Department of Anesthesiology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Sabeen Rizwan
- Department of Anesthesiology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Shivam Shodhan
- Department of Anesthesiology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Nora D Volkow
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Bethesda, MD, USA
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Tomas-Roig J, Piscitelli F, Gil V, Quintana E, Ramió-Torrentà LL, Del Río JA, Moore TP, Agbemenyah H, Salinas G, Pommerenke C, Lorenzen S, Beißbarth T, Hoyer-Fender S, Di Marzo V, Havemann-Reinecke U. Effects of repeated long-term psychosocial stress and acute cannabinoid exposure on mouse corticostriatal circuitries: Implications for neuropsychiatric disorders. CNS Neurosci Ther 2018; 24:528-538. [PMID: 29388323 PMCID: PMC5969305 DOI: 10.1111/cns.12810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2017] [Revised: 01/02/2018] [Accepted: 01/04/2018] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Vulnerability to psychiatric manifestations is achieved by the influence of genetic and environment including stress and cannabis consumption. Here, we used a psychosocial stress model based on resident‐intruder confrontations to study the brain corticostriatal‐function, since deregulation of corticostriatal circuitries has been reported in many psychiatric disorders. CB1 receptors are widely expressed in the central nervous system and particularly, in both cortex and striatum brain structures. Aims and methods The investigation presented here is addressed to assess the impact of repeated stress following acute cannabinoid exposure on behavior and corticostriatal brain physiology by assessing mice behavior, the concentration of endocannabinoid and endocannabinoid‐like molecules and changes in the transcriptome. Results Stressed animals urinated frequently; showed exacerbated scratching activity, lower striatal N‐arachidonylethanolamine (AEA) levels and higher cortical expression of cholinergic receptor nicotinic alpha 6. The cannabinoid agonist WIN55212.2 diminished locomotor activity while the inverse agonist increased the distance travelled in the center of the open field. Upon CB1 activation, N‐oleoylethanolamide and N‐palmitoylethanolamide, two AEA congeners that do not interact directly with cannabinoid receptors, were enhanced in the striatum. The co‐administration with both cannabinoids induced an up‐regulation of striatal FK506 binding protein 5. The inverse agonist in controls reversed the effects of WIN55212.2 on motor activity. When Rimonabant was injected under stress, the cortical levels of 2‐arachidonoylglycerol were maximum. The agonist and the antagonist influenced the cortical expression of cholinergic receptor nicotinic alpha 6 and serotonin transporter neurotransmitter type 4 in opposite directions, while their co‐administration tended to produce a null effect under stress. Conclusions The endocannabinoid system had a direct effect on serotoninergic neurotransmission and glucocorticoid signaling. Cholinergic receptor nicotinic alpha‐6 was shown to be deregulated in response to stress and following synthetic cannabinoid drugs thus could confer vulnerability to cannabis addiction and psychosis. Targeting the receptors of endocannabinoids and endocannabinoid‐like mediators might be a valuable option for treating stress‐related neuropsychiatric symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordi Tomas-Roig
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.,Center Nanoscale Microscopy and Molecular Physiology of the Brain (CNMPB), Göttingen, Germany.,Girona Neuroimmunology and Multiple Sclerosis Unit (UNIEMTG), Dr. Josep Trueta University Hospital and Neurodegeneration and Neuroinflammation Research Group, Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBGI), Girona, Spain
| | - Fabiana Piscitelli
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Vanesa Gil
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ester Quintana
- Girona Neuroimmunology and Multiple Sclerosis Unit (UNIEMTG), Dr. Josep Trueta University Hospital and Neurodegeneration and Neuroinflammation Research Group, Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBGI), Girona, Spain
| | - Lluís L Ramió-Torrentà
- Girona Neuroimmunology and Multiple Sclerosis Unit (UNIEMTG), Dr. Josep Trueta University Hospital and Neurodegeneration and Neuroinflammation Research Group, Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBGI), Girona, Spain
| | - Jose Antonio Del Río
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Timothy Patrick Moore
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.,Center Nanoscale Microscopy and Molecular Physiology of the Brain (CNMPB), Göttingen, Germany.,Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Hope Agbemenyah
- Laboratory for Aging and Cognitive Diseases, European Neuroscience Institute, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Gabriela Salinas
- Department of Developmental Biochemistry, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Claudia Pommerenke
- Department of Developmental Biochemistry, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Stephan Lorenzen
- Department of Medical Statistics, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.,Department of Molecular Medicine, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Tim Beißbarth
- Department of Medical Statistics, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Sigrid Hoyer-Fender
- Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach Institute for Zoology and Anthropology, Developmental Biology, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Vincenzo Di Marzo
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Ursula Havemann-Reinecke
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.,Center Nanoscale Microscopy and Molecular Physiology of the Brain (CNMPB), Göttingen, Germany
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Integrating Endocannabinoid Signaling and Cannabinoids into the Biology and Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Neuropsychopharmacology 2018; 43:80-102. [PMID: 28745306 PMCID: PMC5719095 DOI: 10.1038/npp.2017.162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 145] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2017] [Revised: 07/17/2017] [Accepted: 07/20/2017] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to stress is an undeniable, but in most cases surmountable, part of life. However, in certain individuals, exposure to severe or cumulative stressors can lead to an array of pathological conditions including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), characterized by debilitating trauma-related intrusive thoughts, avoidance behaviors, hyperarousal, as well as depressed mood and anxiety. In the context of the rapidly changing political and legal landscape surrounding use of cannabis products in the USA, there has been a surge of public and research interest in the role of cannabinoids in the regulation of stress-related biological processes and in their potential therapeutic application for stress-related psychopathology. Here we review the current state of knowledge regarding the effects of cannabis and cannabinoids in PTSD and the preclinical and clinical literature on the effects of cannabinoids and endogenous cannabinoid signaling systems in the regulation of biological processes related to the pathogenesis of PTSD. Potential therapeutic implications of the reviewed literature are also discussed. Finally, we propose that a state of endocannabinoid deficiency could represent a stress susceptibility endophenotype predisposing to the development of trauma-related psychopathology and provide biologically plausible support for the self-medication hypotheses used to explain high rates of cannabis use in patients with trauma-related disorders.
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Scarante FF, Vila-Verde C, Detoni VL, Ferreira-Junior NC, Guimarães FS, Campos AC. Cannabinoid Modulation of the Stressed Hippocampus. Front Mol Neurosci 2017; 10:411. [PMID: 29311804 PMCID: PMC5742214 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2017.00411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2017] [Accepted: 11/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Exposure to stressful situations is one of the risk factors for the precipitation of several psychiatric disorders, including Major Depressive Disorder, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Schizophrenia. The hippocampal formation is a forebrain structure highly associated with emotional, learning and memory processes; being particularly vulnerable to stress. Exposure to stressful stimuli leads to neuroplastic changes and imbalance between inhibitory/excitatory networks. These changes have been associated with an impaired hippocampal function. Endocannabinoids (eCB) are one of the main systems controlling both excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission, as well as neuroplasticity within the hippocampus. Cannabinoids receptors are highly expressed in the hippocampus, and several lines of evidence suggest that facilitation of cannabinoid signaling within this brain region prevents stress-induced behavioral changes. Also, chronic stress modulates hippocampal CB1 receptors expression and endocannabinoid levels. Moreover, cannabinoids participate in mechanisms related to synaptic plasticity and adult neurogenesis. Here, we discussed the main findings supporting the involvement of hippocampal cannabinoid neurotransmission in stress-induced behavioral and neuroplastic changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franciele F Scarante
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, Centre for Interdisciplinary Research on Applied Neurosciences (NAPNA), Cannabinoid Research Institute, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Carla Vila-Verde
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, Centre for Interdisciplinary Research on Applied Neurosciences (NAPNA), Cannabinoid Research Institute, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Vinícius L Detoni
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, Centre for Interdisciplinary Research on Applied Neurosciences (NAPNA), Cannabinoid Research Institute, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Nilson C Ferreira-Junior
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, Centre for Interdisciplinary Research on Applied Neurosciences (NAPNA), Cannabinoid Research Institute, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Francisco S Guimarães
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, Centre for Interdisciplinary Research on Applied Neurosciences (NAPNA), Cannabinoid Research Institute, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Alline C Campos
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, Centre for Interdisciplinary Research on Applied Neurosciences (NAPNA), Cannabinoid Research Institute, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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50
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Smail MA, Soles JL, Karwoski TE, Rubin RT, Rhodes ME. Sexually diergic hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis responses to selective and non-selective muscarinic antagonists prior to cholinergic stimulation by physostigmine in rats. Brain Res Bull 2017; 137:23-34. [PMID: 29122691 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2017.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2017] [Revised: 10/21/2017] [Accepted: 11/02/2017] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Central cholinergic systems regulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis differentially in males and females (sexual diergism). We previously investigated the role of muscarinic receptors in this regulation by administering physostigmine (PHYSO), an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, to male and female rats pretreated with scopolamine (SCOP), a nonselective muscarinic antagonist. SCOP pretreatment enhanced adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and corticosterone (CORT) responses in both sexes, but males had greater ACTH responses while females had greater CORT responses. In the present study, we further explored the role of muscarinic receptor subtypes in HPA axis regulation by administering PHYSO to male and female rats following SCOP or various doses of either the M1 or the M2 selective muscarinic receptor antagonists, pirenzepine (PIREN) or methoctramine (METHO). Blood was sampled before and at multiple times after PHYSO. ACTH and CORT were determined by highly specific immunoassays. M1 antagonism by PIREN prior to PHYSO resulted in sustained, dose-dependent increases in ACTH and CORT: ACTH responses were similar in both sexes, and CORT responses were greater in females. M2 antagonism by METHO prior to PHYSO resulted in overall decreases in ACTH and CORT: ACTH and CORT responses were higher in females but lower in both sexes than the hormone responses following PIREN or SCOP pretreatment. Area under the curve analyses supported these findings. These results suggest that specific muscarinic receptor subtypes differentially influence the HPA axis in a sexually diergic manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marissa A Smail
- Department of Biology, Saint Vincent College, Latrobe, PA, United States
| | - Jessica L Soles
- Department of Biology, Saint Vincent College, Latrobe, PA, United States
| | - Tracy E Karwoski
- Center for Neurosciences Research, Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Robert T Rubin
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Michael E Rhodes
- Department of Biology, Saint Vincent College, Latrobe, PA, United States.
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