0000000000646632
AUTHOR
Heike Hermann
CB1 Cannabinoid Receptors and On-Demand Defense Against Excitotoxicity
Abnormally high spiking activity can damage neurons. Signaling systems to protect neurons from the consequences of abnormal discharge activity have been postulated. We generated conditional mutant mice that lack expression of the cannabinoid receptor type 1 in principal forebrain neurons but not in adjacent inhibitory interneurons. In mutant mice,the excitotoxin kainic acid (KA) induced excessive seizures in vivo. The threshold to KA-induced neuronal excitation in vitro was severely reduced in hippocampal pyramidal neurons of mutants. KA administration rapidly raised hippocampal levels of anandamide and induced protective mechanisms in wild-type principal hippocampal neurons. These protecti…
Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone-Mediated Induction of Intracellular Signaling Pathways and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Expression Is Inhibited by the Activation of the Endocannabinoid System
CRH receptor (CRHR) 1 and the cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) are both G protein-coupled receptors. Activation of CRHR1 leadstoincreasesincAMPproductionandphosphorylationof the transcription factor cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB). In contrast, CB1 is negatively coupled to the cAMP signaling cascade. In this study, we analyzed a putative interaction between these two systems focusing on the regulation of the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a CREB-regulated gene. In situ hybridization revealed coexpression of CRHR1 and CB1 receptors in the granular layer of the cerebellum. Therefore, we analyzed the effects of CRH and the CB1 agonist WIN-55,212-2 on BDNF expr…