Unknown

Dataset Information

0

Functional Redundancy Between Canonical Endocannabinoid Signaling Systems in the Modulation of Anxiety.


ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:Increasing the available repertoire of effective treatments for mood and anxiety disorders represents a critical unmet need. Pharmacological augmentation of endogenous cannabinoid (eCB) signaling has been suggested to represent a novel approach to the treatment of anxiety disorders; however, the functional interactions between two canonical eCB pathways mediated via anandamide (N-arachidonylethanolamine [AEA]) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) in the regulation of anxiety are not well understood. METHODS:We utilized pharmacological augmentation and depletion combined with behavioral and electrophysiological approaches to probe the role of 2-AG signaling in the modulation of stress-induced anxiety and the functional redundancy between AEA and 2-AG signaling in the modulation of anxiety-like behaviors in mice. RESULTS:Selective 2-AG augmentation reduced anxiety in the light/dark box assay and prevented stress-induced increases in anxiety associated with limbic AEA deficiency. In contrast, acute 2-AG depletion increased anxiety-like behaviors, which was normalized by selective pharmacological augmentation of AEA signaling and via direct cannabinoid receptor 1 stimulation with ?9-tetrahydrocannabinol. Electrophysiological studies revealed 2-AG modulation of amygdala glutamatergic transmission as a key synaptic correlate of the anxiolytic effects of 2-AG augmentation. CONCLUSIONS:Although AEA and 2-AG likely subserve distinct physiological roles, a pharmacological and functional redundancy between these canonical eCB signaling pathways exists in the modulation of anxiety-like behaviors. These data support development of eCB-based treatment approaches for mood and anxiety disorders and suggest a potentially wider therapeutic overlap between AEA and 2-AG augmentation approaches than was previously appreciated.

SUBMITTER: Bedse G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5585044 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

altmetric image

Publications

Functional Redundancy Between Canonical Endocannabinoid Signaling Systems in the Modulation of Anxiety.

Bedse Gaurav G   Hartley Nolan D ND   Neale Emily E   Gaulden Andrew D AD   Patrick Toni A TA   Kingsley Philip J PJ   Uddin Md Jashim MJ   Plath Niels N   Marnett Lawrence J LJ   Patel Sachin S  

Biological psychiatry 20170315 7


<h4>Background</h4>Increasing the available repertoire of effective treatments for mood and anxiety disorders represents a critical unmet need. Pharmacological augmentation of endogenous cannabinoid (eCB) signaling has been suggested to represent a novel approach to the treatment of anxiety disorders; however, the functional interactions between two canonical eCB pathways mediated via anandamide (N-arachidonylethanolamine [AEA]) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) in the regulation of anxiety are  ...[more]

Similar Datasets

| S-EPMC4268380 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC4793117 | biostudies-other
2017-12-25 | GSE106192 | GEO
| S-EPMC5753860 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC3508521 | biostudies-literature
2010-09-09 | E-GEOD-18051 | biostudies-arrayexpress
2010-09-09 | GSE18051 | GEO
| S-EPMC3382450 | biostudies-other
| S-EPMC4836412 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC3193219 | biostudies-literature