6533b851fe1ef96bd12a9659

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Endocannabinoid Role in Synaptic Plasticity and Learning

Giovanni MarsicanoBeat Lutz

subject

musculoskeletal neural and ocular physiologyfood and beveragesLong-term potentiationBiologyNeurotransmissionDepolarization-induced suppression of inhibitionchemistry.chemical_compoundnervous systemchemistrySynaptic plasticityMetaplasticitylipids (amino acids peptides and proteins)NeurotransmitterLong-term depressionNeurosciencepsychological phenomena and processesIon channel linked receptors

description

Endocannabinoids have recently emerged as versatile modulators of synaptic transmission and can act as retrograde neurotransmitters. As they cannot be stored in synaptic vesicles, endocannabinoid signaling is believed to start ‘on-demand,’ via a stimulus-dependent synthesis from membranous precursors at the postsynaptic site. After synthesis, endocannabinoids bind presynaptically to cannabinoid type 1 (CB1) receptors, leading to a short- or long-term suppression of neurotransmitter release. CB1 receptors are present in a plethora of different synaptic connections in the brain. Electrophysiological and behavioral analyses of mutant mice lacking CB1 receptors and of pharmacologically treated rodents with CB1 receptor antagonists have established multiple functions of endocannabinoids as modulators of memory processing.

yearjournalcountryeditionlanguage
2009-01-01
https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-008045046-9.00816-0