The obesity epidemic is a major health threat affecting one in four people in the affluent western world, where high-energy foods are easily available and there is little need for exercise. To identify novel therapeutic targets for the treatment of obesity, one important step is to further define the complex circuitry in the brainwhich is ultimately responsible for our appetite and body weight regulation. Although complex, appetite can be thought of as having two distinct, though none mutually exclusive, aspects: the need to eat (homeostatic) and the desire to eat(hedonistic).The need to eat, a product of energy homeostasis, is what drives the consumption offood for basic survival. In an attempt to further define the mainly “homeostatic” neuronal circuitry, we combined blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD)pharmacological-challenge magnetic resonance imaging (phMRI) with c-Fosfunctional activity mapping to characterise “whole brain” responsiveness to anorexigenic dose of the glucose anti metabolite 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG). Using thesecomplementary methods, we demonstrated functional brain activity in a number ofknown glucose-sensing brain regions, including parts of the hypothalamus andbrainstem, following administration of 2-DG when compared with vehicle treatment.The desire to eat is a result of a complex interplay between the reward andmotivational circuits implicated in addictive behaviours, and those which controlenergy homeostasis. Recent research has pointed to the endocannabinoid system,and specifically the central cannabinoid 1 (CB1) receptor, as a key target mediatingthe functional cross talk between the two appetitive systems. To define the sites ofaction of cannabinoids, we used an orexigenic dose of the full CB1 agonist, CP55940,to map responsive brain regions again using BOLD phMRI and whole-brain c-Fosfunctional activity mapping. Areas of interest demonstrated a drug interaction whenthe CB1 receptor inverse agonist, Rimonabant was co-administered. These complementary methods demonstrated functional activity in the cortico-striatalhypothalamicpathway, a key system in the motivational drive to eat.The appetitive actions of synthetic CB1 inverse agonists such as Rimonabant are welldocumented. We, however, described a putative novel endogenous CB1 inverseagonist, hemopressin, which is the first identified peptide ligand of CB1 receptors.We showed that hemopressin inhibits agonist-induced receptor internalisation in aheterologous cell model in vitro. When administered centrally or systemically in vivo,we found that hemopressin decreases nocturnal food intake in out-bred rats andmice, as well as in obese, leptin-deficient ob/obmice. Importantly, hemopressininduces hypophagia without causing any apparent adverse side effects. We have also shown that the anorectic effect is absent in CB1-/- mice, and that hemopressin canblock CB1 agonist-induced hyperphagia in male rats, providing strong evidence forantagonism of the CB1 receptor in vivo. We speculate that hemopressin may be one of a family of endogenous functional CB1 receptor ligands that modulate the activity of appetite pathways in the brain.

Activation of the CB1 receptor is modulated by aspartate residue D2.63176 in transmembrane helix (TMH) II. Interestingly, D2.63 does not affect the affinity for ligand binding at the CB1 receptor. Studies in class A GPCRs have suggested an ionic interaction between residues of TMHII and VII. In this report, modeling studies identified residue K373, in the extracellular (EC)-3 loop, in charged interactions with D2.63. We investigated this possibility by performing reciprocal mutations and biochemical studies. D2.63176A, K373A, D2.63176A-K373A, and the reciprocal mutant with the interacting residues juxtaposed, D2.63176K-K373D were characterized using radioligand binding and guanosine 5'-3-O-(thio)triphosphate functional assays. None of the mutations resulted in a significant change in the binding affinity of CP55,940 or SR141716A. Computational results indicate that the D2.63176-K373 ionic interaction strongly influences the conformation(s) of the EC-3 loop, providing a structure-based rationale for the importance of the EC-3 loop to signal transduction in CB1. Specifically, the putative ionic interaction results in the EC-3 loop pulling over the top (extracellular side) of the receptor; this EC-3 loop conformation may serve protective and mechanistic roles. These results suggest that the ionic interaction between D2.63176 and K373 is crucial for CB1 signal transduction. This work may help to aide drug design efforts for the effective treatment of different diseases. The cannabinoid receptors of osteoblasts may represent a target for the treatment of bone disorders such as osteoporosis. Our research demonstrates that cannabinoids can affect important signaling molecules in osteoblasts. In MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic cells, the CB1 antagonist, AM251, has been reported to induce increases in Runx2 mRNA, mineralized bone nodule formation, and activation of signaling molecules such as ERK and AKT (Wu et al., 2011). Studies from our lab characterizing mice in which both CB1 and CB2 receptors were inactivated by homologous recombination have demonstrated increased bone mass coupled with enhanced osteoblast differentiation of bone marrow stromal cells in culture (manuscript in preparation). We explored the effect of antagonizing CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors in osteoblastic cells to gain insights into molecular pathways that may help to explain the effects of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) in bone development. Our data was generated by running time course experiments with MC3T3-E1 cells under the influence of SR141716A, SR144528 or both in combination. The cells were harvested with a lysis buffer at specific time points and analyzed by western blot analysis. Quantification of protein activation was calculated using LiCor imaging equipment and software. Within 15 minutes, treatment with the CB1 receptor antagonist SR141716A resulted in several fold increases in pERK, pSMAD158, and pAKT. SR144528, a CB2 receptor antagonist, caused increases in pERK and pSMAD158, but not pAKT. When both antagonists were applied together, pERK and pSMAD158 levels increased, while pAKT signaling was diminished compared to SR141716A alone. The finding that cannabinoid receptor antagonists alter the activity of the SMAD158 complex is a novel finding, which suggests that cannabinoids can influence bone morphogenic signaling pathways, and therefore play a significant role in osteoblast differentiation and function. / Cell Biology

O Canabidiol (CBD), principal composto não-psicotomimético da Cannabis sativa, possui diversas propriedades farmacológicas, incluindo a indução de efeitos tipoantidepressivos e ansiolíticos em roedores após administração sistêmica. O isolamento social aumenta comportamentos agressivos em camundongos, condição denominada agressão induzida pelo isolamento social ou agressão territorial. Drogas ansiolíticas e antidepressivas podem atenuar comportamentos agressivos. Desse modo, o objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar se o CBD atenuaria comportamentos agressivos induzidos pelo isolamento social em camundongos. Camundongos Suíços machos (7-8 semanas de idade no dia do isolamento, 30-40 g no dia do teste) foram mantidos isolados (camundongos residentes) para indução dos comportamentos agressivos. Paralelamente, camundongos co-específicos (camundongos intrusos) foram mantidos agrupados (oito por caixa). Neste modelo, um camundongo intruso da mesma linhagem, sexo e idade foi colocado na caixa moradia do residente. As interações entre os camundongos residente e intruso foram gravadas por 20 min e a latência para a primeira mordida contra o intruso, o número de ataques e o tempo total de ataques foram analisados por um observador cego aos grupos experimentais. Após 10 dias de isolamento social, foi testado se a administração aguda (i.p.) de CBD (5, 15, 30 ou 60 mg/kg), 30 min antes do teste, atenuaria comportamentos agressivos dos camundongos residentes contra os intrusos. Para avaliar a participação de receptores 5-HT1A e CB1 nos efeitos do CBD, grupos independentes de animais receberam 1 injeção prévia de WAY 100635 (antagonista dos receptores 5-HT1A, 0,3 mg/kg) ou AM251 (antagonista dos receptores CB1, 1 mg/kg), 30 min antes do CBD (15 mg/kg). Para controlar possíveis efeitos motores da droga, grupos independentes de animais tratados com doses efetivas de CBD ou não efetivas de WAY100635 ou AM251 foram submetidos ao actímetro para avaliação da atividade locomotora total. O CBD (15 mg/kg) aumentou a latência para o residente atacar o intruso e este efeito foi atenuado tanto pela administração prévia de AM251 (VEI+VEI: 186,62±83,16; VEI+CBD: 956,25±150,77; AM+VEI: 271,71±156,18; AM+CBD: 395,86±208,24; p=0,030) quanto WAY100635 (VEI+VEI: 116,33±29,38; VEI+CBD: 860,87±177,36; WAY+VEI: 305,12±159,16; WAY+CBD: 302,57±154,68; p=0,011). Além disso, o CBD reduziu o número de ataques em todas as doses testadas (VEI: 23,00±3,66; CBD 5: 12,25±2,43; CBD 15: 6,62±2,43; CBD 30: 7,71±3,24; CBD 60: 8,16±2,36; p=0,002) e as doses intermediárias (15 e 30 mg/kg) foram capazes de diminuir o tempo total de ataques (VEI: 114,37±22,65; CBD 5: 80,87±23,83; CBD 15: 40,00±14,58; CBD 30: 25,86±12,88; CBD 60: 54,67±9,68; p=0,018), ambos os efeitos sendo atenuados pelo AM251 (Número de ataques - VEI+VEI: 19,25±2,56; VEI+CBD: 3,25±2,36; AM+VEI: 22,86±4,97; AM+CBD: 14,14±4,10; p=0,028; Tempo total de ataques - VEI+VEI: 66,62±9,19; VEI+CBD: 11,75±9,56; AM+VEI: 118,86±31,00; AM+CBD: 58,71±17,45; p=0,049) e WAY100635 (Número de ataques - VEI+VEI: 30,83±6,77; VEI+CBD: 7,87±4,68; WAY+VEI: 22,50±5,06; WAY+CBD: 23,57±6,74; p=0,059; Tempo total de ataques - VEI+VEI: 151,17±32,65; VEI+CBD: 16,75±10,88; WAY+VEI: 113,75±24,66; WAY+CBD: 76,29±21,36; p=0,002). Não foi observado efeito motor do CBD em nenhuma das doses testadas, bem como do WAY100635 e AM251. Esses resultados evidenciam que o CBD atenua comportamentos agressivos em camundongos e nos permitem sugerir um mecanismo misto, visto que há o envolvimento de receptores CB1 e 5-HT1A. Desse modo, este fitocanabinoide poderia ser uma alternativa terapêutica para tratar comportamentos agressivos associados a transtornos psiquiátricos / Cannabidiol (CBD), a major non-psychotomimetic compound from Cannabis sativa plant, induces anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like effects in rodents after systemic administration. Long-term individual housing increases aggressive behavior in mice, a condition named isolation-induced aggression or territorial aggression, which can be attenuated by anxiolytic and antidepressant drugs. Thus, the aim of the present study was to verify whether CBD would attenuate the aggressive behavior induced by social isolation. Male Swiss mice (7-8 weeks of age on the isolation day, 30-40 g on the test day) were individually housed (resident mice) to induce aggressive behavior, while conspecific mice (intruder mice) were grouped housed (eight per cage). In this model, an intruder mouse of the same strain, sex and age is placed in the resident home cage. The resident-intruder interactions were videotaped for 20 min and the latency to the first bite against the intruder, the number of attacks and the total duration of aggressive encounters were recorded and later analyzed by an observer blind to the treatment groups. After 10 days of social isolation, we tested if acute intraperitoneal CBD administration (5, 15, 30 and 60 mg/kg) to the resident mice 30 min prior to the test would attenuate aggressive-like behavior towards the intruder animal. To evaluate the involvement of 5-HT1A and CB1 receptors in the CBD effects, independent groups of animals were injected with WAY100635 (0.3 mg/kg) or AM251(1 mg/kg) 30 min prior to CBD (15 mg/kg). To control possible motor effects, independent animals treated with effective doses of CBD or ineffective doses of WAY100635 or AM251 were submitted to the actimeter to evaluate the total locomotor activity. CBD (15 mg/kg) increased latency to attack the intruder and this effect was attenuated by the prior administration of AM251 (VEI+VEI: 186.62±83.16; VEI+CBD: 956.25±150.77; AM+VEI: 271.71±156.18; AM+CBD: 395.86±208.24; p=0.030) or WAY100635 (VEI+VEI: 116.33±29.38; VEI+CBD: 860.87±177.36; WAY+VEI: 305.12±159.16; WAY+CBD: 302.57±154.68; p=0.011). Moreover, CBD reduced the number of attacks in all tested doses (VEI: 23.00±3.66; CBD 5: 12.25±2.43; CBD 15: 6.62±2.43; CBD 30: 7.71±3.24; CBD 60: 8.16±2.36; p=0.002) as well as the duration of aggressive behavior encounters in the intermediary doses (15 and 30 mg/kg; VEI: 114.37±22.65; CBD 5: 80.87±23.83; CBD 15: 40.00±14.58; CBD 30: 25.86±12.88; CBD 60: 54.67±9.68; p=0.018), both effects were attenuated by AM251 (Number of attacks - VEI+VEI: 19.25±2.56; VEI+CBD: 3.25±2.36; AM+VEI: 22.86±4.97; AM+CBD: 14.14±4.10; p=0.028; Total time of attacks - VEI+VEI: 66.62±9.19; VEI+CBD: 11.75±9.56; AM+VEI: 118.86±31.00; AM+CBD: 58.71±17.45; p=0.049) and WAY100635 (Number of attacks - VEI+VEI: 30.83±6.77; VEI+CBD: 7.87±4.68; WAY+VEI: 22.50±5.06; WAY+CBD: 23.57±6.74; p=0.059; Total time of attacks - VEI+VEI: 151.17±32.65; VEI+CBD: 16.75±10.88; WAY+VEI: 113.75±24.66; WAY+CBD: 76.29±21.36; p=0.002). CBD, in all tested doses, as well as WAY100635 and AM251, did not induce locomotor changes. These findings suggest that CBD decreases aggressive behaviors in mice and allow us to suggest that this effect involves CB1 and 5-HT1A receptors. Therefore, this phytocannabinoid may be therapeutically useful to treat aggressive behaviors that are usually associated with psychiatric disorders

O receptor canabinoide CB1, altamente expresso em várias regiões do sistema límbico, possui um importante papel na regulação da plasticidade sináptica implicada nas diferentes fases da memória emocional. Em roedores, embora já estejam bem caracterizados os efeitos da manipulação farmacológica do receptor CB1 na amígdala, no hipocampo e no córtex pré-frontal medial sobre a modulação de memórias aversivas, sua função no córtex retrosplenial (RSC) permanece desconhecida. Neste trabalho, usando o paradigma pavloviano de condicionamento aversivo ao contexto em ratos, exploramos o papel do sistema canabinoide no RSC sobre as fases de consolidação, reconsolidação e extinção da memória. Demostramos que a infusão intra-RSC imediatamente pós-treino de AM251 (11 μg/μL), um antagonista seletivo CB1, causa amnésia retrógrada no teste de retenção da memória conduzido 48 h após o condicionamento, enquanto que a infusão bilateral de CP55940, um agonista canabinoide CB1/CB2 (5μg/μL), facilita a consolidação da memória. No protocolo de reconsolidação (injeção intra-RSC após uma sessão de reativação de 4 min, conduzida 48 h depois do condicionamento) foram encontramos efeitos opostos no teste de retenção da memória realizado 24 h após a reativação: o bloqueio dos receptores CB1 facilita, enquanto que sua ativação prejudica o fenômeno de reconsolidação da memória. Além disso, quando o AM251 é injetado intra-RSC 20 min antes de uma reexposição prolongada (de 30 min), observamos que a consolidação da memória de extinção é prejudicada, enquanto que o CP55940 acelera a extinção e impede sua recuperação espontânea ao longo do tempo. Concluindo, nossos resultados apresentam novas evidências sobre a função do sistema canabinoide no RSC sobre a modulação das fases de consolidação, reconsolidação e extinção da memória emocional. / The CB1 cannabinoid receptor is highly expressed in many regions of the limbic system, having an important role in the regulation of synaptic plasticity implicated in different phases of emotional memory processing. In rodents, although are well characterized the effects of the pharmacological manipulations of the CB1 receptor in the amygdala, hippocampus, and medial prefrontal cortex upon the modulation of aversive memories, their function in the retrosplenial cortex (RSC) remains unknown. In this study, using pavlovian contextual fear conditioning in rats, we explored the role of the cannabinoid system in the RSC on memory consolidation, reconsolidation, and extinction. We showed that posttraining intra-RSC infusion of AM251 (11 μg/μL), a selective CB1 antagonist, causes retrograde amnesia during the test for memory retention conducted 48 h after learning, whereas the bilateral infusion of CP55940 (5 μg/μL), a CB1/CB2 agonist, enhanced fear memory consolidation. In the reconsolidation protocol (postreactivation intra-RSC infusions conducted 48 h after training) we found opposite effects in the test session performed 24 h after memory reactivation: blocking CB1 receptors enhanced, whereas the activation of cannabinoid receptors impaired memory reconsolidation. Furthermore, when AM251 was infused intra-RSC 20 min before a prolonged reexposure (30 min), memory extinction was impaired, whereas the infusion of CP55940 accelerates memory extinction and prevents spontaneous recovery, maintaining memory extinguished over time. In conclusion, these data shed new light about the function of the cannabinoid system in the RSC on the role of contextual-fear related memory consolidation, reconsolidation, and extinction.

O Canabidiol (CBD), principal composto não-psicotomimético da Cannabis sativa, possui diversas propriedades farmacológicas, incluindo a indução de efeitos tipoantidepressivos e ansiolíticos em roedores após administração sistêmica. O isolamento social aumenta comportamentos agressivos em camundongos, condição denominada agressão induzida pelo isolamento social ou agressão territorial. Drogas ansiolíticas e antidepressivas podem atenuar comportamentos agressivos. Desse modo, o objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar se o CBD atenuaria comportamentos agressivos induzidos pelo isolamento social em camundongos. Camundongos Suíços machos (7-8 semanas de idade no dia do isolamento, 30-40 g no dia do teste) foram mantidos isolados (camundongos residentes) para indução dos comportamentos agressivos. Paralelamente, camundongos co-específicos (camundongos intrusos) foram mantidos agrupados (oito por caixa). Neste modelo, um camundongo intruso da mesma linhagem, sexo e idade foi colocado na caixa moradia do residente. As interações entre os camundongos residente e intruso foram gravadas por 20 min e a latência para a primeira mordida contra o intruso, o número de ataques e o tempo total de ataques foram analisados por um observador cego aos grupos experimentais. Após 10 dias de isolamento social, foi testado se a administração aguda (i.p.) de CBD (5, 15, 30 ou 60 mg/kg), 30 min antes do teste, atenuaria comportamentos agressivos dos camundongos residentes contra os intrusos. Para avaliar a participação de receptores 5-HT1A e CB1 nos efeitos do CBD, grupos independentes de animais receberam 1 injeção prévia de WAY 100635 (antagonista dos receptores 5-HT1A, 0,3 mg/kg) ou AM251 (antagonista dos receptores CB1, 1 mg/kg), 30 min antes do CBD (15 mg/kg). Para controlar possíveis efeitos motores da droga, grupos independentes de animais tratados com doses efetivas de CBD ou não efetivas de WAY100635 ou AM251 foram submetidos ao actímetro para avaliação da atividade locomotora total. O CBD (15 mg/kg) aumentou a latência para o residente atacar o intruso e este efeito foi atenuado tanto pela administração prévia de AM251 (VEI+VEI: 186,62±83,16; VEI+CBD: 956,25±150,77; AM+VEI: 271,71±156,18; AM+CBD: 395,86±208,24; p=0,030) quanto WAY100635 (VEI+VEI: 116,33±29,38; VEI+CBD: 860,87±177,36; WAY+VEI: 305,12±159,16; WAY+CBD: 302,57±154,68; p=0,011). Além disso, o CBD reduziu o número de ataques em todas as doses testadas (VEI: 23,00±3,66; CBD 5: 12,25±2,43; CBD 15: 6,62±2,43; CBD 30: 7,71±3,24; CBD 60: 8,16±2,36; p=0,002) e as doses intermediárias (15 e 30 mg/kg) foram capazes de diminuir o tempo total de ataques (VEI: 114,37±22,65; CBD 5: 80,87±23,83; CBD 15: 40,00±14,58; CBD 30: 25,86±12,88; CBD 60: 54,67±9,68; p=0,018), ambos os efeitos sendo atenuados pelo AM251 (Número de ataques - VEI+VEI: 19,25±2,56; VEI+CBD: 3,25±2,36; AM+VEI: 22,86±4,97; AM+CBD: 14,14±4,10; p=0,028; Tempo total de ataques - VEI+VEI: 66,62±9,19; VEI+CBD: 11,75±9,56; AM+VEI: 118,86±31,00; AM+CBD: 58,71±17,45; p=0,049) e WAY100635 (Número de ataques - VEI+VEI: 30,83±6,77; VEI+CBD: 7,87±4,68; WAY+VEI: 22,50±5,06; WAY+CBD: 23,57±6,74; p=0,059; Tempo total de ataques - VEI+VEI: 151,17±32,65; VEI+CBD: 16,75±10,88; WAY+VEI: 113,75±24,66; WAY+CBD: 76,29±21,36; p=0,002). Não foi observado efeito motor do CBD em nenhuma das doses testadas, bem como do WAY100635 e AM251. Esses resultados evidenciam que o CBD atenua comportamentos agressivos em camundongos e nos permitem sugerir um mecanismo misto, visto que há o envolvimento de receptores CB1 e 5-HT1A. Desse modo, este fitocanabinoide poderia ser uma alternativa terapêutica para tratar comportamentos agressivos associados a transtornos psiquiátricos / Cannabidiol (CBD), a major non-psychotomimetic compound from Cannabis sativa plant, induces anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like effects in rodents after systemic administration. Long-term individual housing increases aggressive behavior in mice, a condition named isolation-induced aggression or territorial aggression, which can be attenuated by anxiolytic and antidepressant drugs. Thus, the aim of the present study was to verify whether CBD would attenuate the aggressive behavior induced by social isolation. Male Swiss mice (7-8 weeks of age on the isolation day, 30-40 g on the test day) were individually housed (resident mice) to induce aggressive behavior, while conspecific mice (intruder mice) were grouped housed (eight per cage). In this model, an intruder mouse of the same strain, sex and age is placed in the resident home cage. The resident-intruder interactions were videotaped for 20 min and the latency to the first bite against the intruder, the number of attacks and the total duration of aggressive encounters were recorded and later analyzed by an observer blind to the treatment groups. After 10 days of social isolation, we tested if acute intraperitoneal CBD administration (5, 15, 30 and 60 mg/kg) to the resident mice 30 min prior to the test would attenuate aggressive-like behavior towards the intruder animal. To evaluate the involvement of 5-HT1A and CB1 receptors in the CBD effects, independent groups of animals were injected with WAY100635 (0.3 mg/kg) or AM251(1 mg/kg) 30 min prior to CBD (15 mg/kg). To control possible motor effects, independent animals treated with effective doses of CBD or ineffective doses of WAY100635 or AM251 were submitted to the actimeter to evaluate the total locomotor activity. CBD (15 mg/kg) increased latency to attack the intruder and this effect was attenuated by the prior administration of AM251 (VEI+VEI: 186.62±83.16; VEI+CBD: 956.25±150.77; AM+VEI: 271.71±156.18; AM+CBD: 395.86±208.24; p=0.030) or WAY100635 (VEI+VEI: 116.33±29.38; VEI+CBD: 860.87±177.36; WAY+VEI: 305.12±159.16; WAY+CBD: 302.57±154.68; p=0.011). Moreover, CBD reduced the number of attacks in all tested doses (VEI: 23.00±3.66; CBD 5: 12.25±2.43; CBD 15: 6.62±2.43; CBD 30: 7.71±3.24; CBD 60: 8.16±2.36; p=0.002) as well as the duration of aggressive behavior encounters in the intermediary doses (15 and 30 mg/kg; VEI: 114.37±22.65; CBD 5: 80.87±23.83; CBD 15: 40.00±14.58; CBD 30: 25.86±12.88; CBD 60: 54.67±9.68; p=0.018), both effects were attenuated by AM251 (Number of attacks - VEI+VEI: 19.25±2.56; VEI+CBD: 3.25±2.36; AM+VEI: 22.86±4.97; AM+CBD: 14.14±4.10; p=0.028; Total time of attacks - VEI+VEI: 66.62±9.19; VEI+CBD: 11.75±9.56; AM+VEI: 118.86±31.00; AM+CBD: 58.71±17.45; p=0.049) and WAY100635 (Number of attacks - VEI+VEI: 30.83±6.77; VEI+CBD: 7.87±4.68; WAY+VEI: 22.50±5.06; WAY+CBD: 23.57±6.74; p=0.059; Total time of attacks - VEI+VEI: 151.17±32.65; VEI+CBD: 16.75±10.88; WAY+VEI: 113.75±24.66; WAY+CBD: 76.29±21.36; p=0.002). CBD, in all tested doses, as well as WAY100635 and AM251, did not induce locomotor changes. These findings suggest that CBD decreases aggressive behaviors in mice and allow us to suggest that this effect involves CB1 and 5-HT1A receptors. Therefore, this phytocannabinoid may be therapeutically useful to treat aggressive behaviors that are usually associated with psychiatric disorders

O receptor canabinoide CB1, altamente expresso em várias regiões do sistema límbico, possui um importante papel na regulação da plasticidade sináptica implicada nas diferentes fases da memória emocional. Em roedores, embora já estejam bem caracterizados os efeitos da manipulação farmacológica do receptor CB1 na amígdala, no hipocampo e no córtex pré-frontal medial sobre a modulação de memórias aversivas, sua função no córtex retrosplenial (RSC) permanece desconhecida. Neste trabalho, usando o paradigma pavloviano de condicionamento aversivo ao contexto em ratos, exploramos o papel do sistema canabinoide no RSC sobre as fases de consolidação, reconsolidação e extinção da memória. Demostramos que a infusão intra-RSC imediatamente pós-treino de AM251 (11 μg/μL), um antagonista seletivo CB1, causa amnésia retrógrada no teste de retenção da memória conduzido 48 h após o condicionamento, enquanto que a infusão bilateral de CP55940, um agonista canabinoide CB1/CB2 (5μg/μL), facilita a consolidação da memória. No protocolo de reconsolidação (injeção intra-RSC após uma sessão de reativação de 4 min, conduzida 48 h depois do condicionamento) foram encontramos efeitos opostos no teste de retenção da memória realizado 24 h após a reativação: o bloqueio dos receptores CB1 facilita, enquanto que sua ativação prejudica o fenômeno de reconsolidação da memória. Além disso, quando o AM251 é injetado intra-RSC 20 min antes de uma reexposição prolongada (de 30 min), observamos que a consolidação da memória de extinção é prejudicada, enquanto que o CP55940 acelera a extinção e impede sua recuperação espontânea ao longo do tempo. Concluindo, nossos resultados apresentam novas evidências sobre a função do sistema canabinoide no RSC sobre a modulação das fases de consolidação, reconsolidação e extinção da memória emocional. / The CB1 cannabinoid receptor is highly expressed in many regions of the limbic system, having an important role in the regulation of synaptic plasticity implicated in different phases of emotional memory processing. In rodents, although are well characterized the effects of the pharmacological manipulations of the CB1 receptor in the amygdala, hippocampus, and medial prefrontal cortex upon the modulation of aversive memories, their function in the retrosplenial cortex (RSC) remains unknown. In this study, using pavlovian contextual fear conditioning in rats, we explored the role of the cannabinoid system in the RSC on memory consolidation, reconsolidation, and extinction. We showed that posttraining intra-RSC infusion of AM251 (11 μg/μL), a selective CB1 antagonist, causes retrograde amnesia during the test for memory retention conducted 48 h after learning, whereas the bilateral infusion of CP55940 (5 μg/μL), a CB1/CB2 agonist, enhanced fear memory consolidation. In the reconsolidation protocol (postreactivation intra-RSC infusions conducted 48 h after training) we found opposite effects in the test session performed 24 h after memory reactivation: blocking CB1 receptors enhanced, whereas the activation of cannabinoid receptors impaired memory reconsolidation. Furthermore, when AM251 was infused intra-RSC 20 min before a prolonged reexposure (30 min), memory extinction was impaired, whereas the infusion of CP55940 accelerates memory extinction and prevents spontaneous recovery, maintaining memory extinguished over time. In conclusion, these data shed new light about the function of the cannabinoid system in the RSC on the role of contextual-fear related memory consolidation, reconsolidation, and extinction.

O receptor canabinoide CB1, altamente expresso em várias regiões do sistema límbico, possui um importante papel na regulação da plasticidade sináptica implicada nas diferentes fases da memória emocional. Em roedores, embora já estejam bem caracterizados os efeitos da manipulação farmacológica do receptor CB1 na amígdala, no hipocampo e no córtex pré-frontal medial sobre a modulação de memórias aversivas, sua função no córtex retrosplenial (RSC) permanece desconhecida. Neste trabalho, usando o paradigma pavloviano de condicionamento aversivo ao contexto em ratos, exploramos o papel do sistema canabinoide no RSC sobre as fases de consolidação, reconsolidação e extinção da memória. Demostramos que a infusão intra-RSC imediatamente pós-treino de AM251 (11 μg/μL), um antagonista seletivo CB1, causa amnésia retrógrada no teste de retenção da memória conduzido 48 h após o condicionamento, enquanto que a infusão bilateral de CP55940, um agonista canabinoide CB1/CB2 (5μg/μL), facilita a consolidação da memória. No protocolo de reconsolidação (injeção intra-RSC após uma sessão de reativação de 4 min, conduzida 48 h depois do condicionamento) foram encontramos efeitos opostos no teste de retenção da memória realizado 24 h após a reativação: o bloqueio dos receptores CB1 facilita, enquanto que sua ativação prejudica o fenômeno de reconsolidação da memória. Além disso, quando o AM251 é injetado intra-RSC 20 min antes de uma reexposição prolongada (de 30 min), observamos que a consolidação da memória de extinção é prejudicada, enquanto que o CP55940 acelera a extinção e impede sua recuperação espontânea ao longo do tempo. Concluindo, nossos resultados apresentam novas evidências sobre a função do sistema canabinoide no RSC sobre a modulação das fases de consolidação, reconsolidação e extinção da memória emocional. / The CB1 cannabinoid receptor is highly expressed in many regions of the limbic system, having an important role in the regulation of synaptic plasticity implicated in different phases of emotional memory processing. In rodents, although are well characterized the effects of the pharmacological manipulations of the CB1 receptor in the amygdala, hippocampus, and medial prefrontal cortex upon the modulation of aversive memories, their function in the retrosplenial cortex (RSC) remains unknown. In this study, using pavlovian contextual fear conditioning in rats, we explored the role of the cannabinoid system in the RSC on memory consolidation, reconsolidation, and extinction. We showed that posttraining intra-RSC infusion of AM251 (11 μg/μL), a selective CB1 antagonist, causes retrograde amnesia during the test for memory retention conducted 48 h after learning, whereas the bilateral infusion of CP55940 (5 μg/μL), a CB1/CB2 agonist, enhanced fear memory consolidation. In the reconsolidation protocol (postreactivation intra-RSC infusions conducted 48 h after training) we found opposite effects in the test session performed 24 h after memory reactivation: blocking CB1 receptors enhanced, whereas the activation of cannabinoid receptors impaired memory reconsolidation. Furthermore, when AM251 was infused intra-RSC 20 min before a prolonged reexposure (30 min), memory extinction was impaired, whereas the infusion of CP55940 accelerates memory extinction and prevents spontaneous recovery, maintaining memory extinguished over time. In conclusion, these data shed new light about the function of the cannabinoid system in the RSC on the role of contextual-fear related memory consolidation, reconsolidation, and extinction.

Le système endocannabinoïde (SEC) est composé : de deux neurotransmetteurs principaux qui sont l’anandamide (AEA) et le 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), de deux enzymes de catabolisme associées, respectivement la Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase (FAAH) et la Monoacylglycerol Lipase (MAGL); et de deux récepteurs principaux qui sont les récepteurs cannabinoïdes de type 1 (CB1) et de type 2 (CB2). Le SEC exerce un rôle critique dans le contrôle des propriétés récompensantes des substances addictives, dont la nicotine. Cependant, le SEC possède un mode de fonctionnement biphasique et complexe. Par exemple, alors que les propriétés renforçantes et incitatrices de la nicotine sont diminuées par le blocage aigu des récepteurs CB1, le comportement de recherche de nicotine peut également être bloqué par l’augmentation aigüe du tonus endocannabinoïde (eCB). Par ailleurs, les essais cliniques suggèrent que le traitement chronique avec l’antagoniste des récepteurs CB1 produit des effets secondaires liés à l’état émotionnel des fumeurs abstinents. Ces résultats indiquent clairement, que l’utilisation optimale de la pharmacologie cannabinoïde pour le traitement chronique du sevrage tabagique reste compliquée et encore mal maitrisée. Le but de ce travail de thèse était d’abord de préciser le rôle des récepteurs CB1 dans le contrôle aigu des propriétés addictives de la nicotine, puis de déterminer le rôle de l’AEA dans le contrôle à long terme des propriétés incitatives de la nicotine. L’hypothèse générale était que la prise volontaire de nicotine, puis le traitement chronique avec un inhibiteur de la FAAH, produiraient une augmentation de l’AEA persistante chez le rat abstinent. Celle-ci aurait 2 conséquences : d’une part la réduction du comportement de recherche de nicotine, et d’autre part le développement d’un état anxieux généralisé indépendant de la transmission via les récepteurs CB1. Pour tester cette hypothèse, des rats ont été exposés à l’auto-administration intraveineuse de nicotine pendant 8 semaines puis mis en abstinence pendant 8 semaines. Pendant cette seconde période, les animaux ont été injectés quotidiennement avec un inhibiteur de la FAAH et nous avons caractérisé le comportement de recherche de nicotine et l’état émotionnel de ces rats. Les résultats ont d’abord montré une grande variabilité inter-individuelle dans la prise volontaire de nicotine, nous avons pu identifier des rats à faible consommation (« low consumers ») et des rats à forte consommation (« high consumers »). Il semble que l’inhibition chronique de la FAAH bloque significativement la rechute induite par la drogue et par les stimuli environnementaux chez les « low consumers » abstinents, et reste sans conséquence sur l’état émotionnel des rats. En revanche chez les « high consumers », l’inhibition de la FAAH bloque uniquement la rechute induite par la nicotine et ces animaux restent sensibles aux effets précipitants des stimuli environnementaux. Par ailleurs, ils développent un état anxieux modéré qui n’est pas bloqué par le traitement avec un antagoniste des récepteurs CB1. Ces données suggèrent donc que chez les « high consumers » abstinents, il existe un excès d’AEA qui cible des circuits différents pour moduler les propriétés incitatrices de la nicotine et l’anxiété. En conclusion, cette étude montre que l’inhibiteur de FAAH pourrait être un outil thérapeutique adapté au traitement de l’addiction à la nicotine si l’on prend en compte la variabilité inter-individuelle rencontrée dans la consommation abusive de nicotine. / The endogenous cannabinoid system, also called the endocannabinoid system (ECS), comprises two principal neurotransmitters: anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), whose specific degradation enzymes are fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) and monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL), respectively. Both AEA and 2-AG bind to cannabinoid type 1 (CB1) and cannabinoid type 2 (CB2) receptors. The ECS is a key element for the expression of both natural and pharmacological reward processes, including nicotine reward. However, the biphasic and complex nature of the ECS renders it a difficult system to study. For example, although acute blockade of CB1 receptors reduces the reinforcing and incentive properties of nicotine, it has also been demonstrated that an acute increase of AEA (CB1 agonist) blocks nicotine-seeking behavior. The aim of the present work is twofold: first, to better characterize the neural substrates through which CB1 receptors regulate the voluntary intake of nicotine; and second, to determine the effect of a chronic increase of AEA tone in nicotine-abstinent rats on i) their persistent motivation for nicotine and ii) their affective phenotype. The hypothesis tested here is that chronic treatment with a FAAH inhibitor after chronic exposure to nicotine will induce a large and persistent increase of AEA during a period of nicotine abstinence. Subsequently, high levels of AEA would reduce the incentive properties of nicotine and nicotine-related stimuli, thus reducing nicotine seeking, and it would also promote high levels of anxiety which might be CB1-independent. In order to test this hypothesis, rats were exposed to nicotine (60 µg/kg/0.1 ml) intravenous self-administration (IVSA) for 8 weeks, after which they remained nicotine-free until the end of the experiment. During the period of abstinence, animals were injected daily with a FAAH inhibitor for 8 weeks (URB597, 0.3 mg/kg i.p.), and both their motivation for nicotine and their affective profile were assessed. Animals were classified into “low consumers” and “high consumers” since a high degree of inter-individual variability was observed in the total amount of nicotine taken over the 8-week IVSA period. We show that in the “low consumers”, chronic FAAH inhibition dramatically reduces nicotine seeking behavior and cue-related incentive salience, and does not induce anxiety-related side-effects during abstinence. In the “high consumers”, however, chronic FAAH inhibition reduces nicotine seeking but not cue-related incentive salience, and causes an increase in anxiety-like behaviors that are not blocked by a CB1 receptor antagonist. These data suggest that in the population of “high consumers”, the effects of increased AEA tone on motivation and anxiety might be mediated by different neuronal circuits. In conclusion, this study demonstrates the potential of chronic FAAH inhibition as an important therapeutic tool for the treatment of nicotine addiction in subjects with a moderate nicotine intake.

During marijuana and alcohol consumption as well as during inflammation the reproductive axis is inhibited, mainly through the inhibition of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone release. In male rats, this inhibitory effect is mediated, at least in part, by the activation of hypothalamic cannabinoid type 1 receptors (CB1). During inflammation, this activation of the endocannabinoid system seems to be mediated by an increase in TNF-α production followed by anandamide augmentations, similarly the effect of intragastric administration of ethanol (3 g/kg) seems to be due to an increase in anandamide. On the other hand, a number of different actions mediated by the endocannabinoid system in various organs and tissues have been described. Both cannabinoid receptors, CB1 and CB2, are localized in the submandibular gland where they mediate the inhibitory effect of intrasubmandibular injections of the endocannabinoid anandamide (6 × 10–5M) on salivary secretion. Lipopolysaccharide (5 mg/kg/3 h) injected intraperitoneally and ethanol (3 g/kg/1 h) injected intragastrically inhibited the salivary secretion induced by the sialogogue metacholine; this inhibitory effect was blocked by CB1 and/or CB2 receptor antagonists. Similar to the hypothalamus, these effects seem to be mediated by increased anandamide. In summary, similar mechanisms mediate the inhibitory actions of endocannabinoids and cannabinoids in both hypothalamus and submandibular gland during drug consumption and inflammation. / Dieser Beitrag ist mit Zustimmung des Rechteinhabers aufgrund einer (DFG-geförderten) Allianz- bzw. Nationallizenz frei zugänglich.

The endogenous cannabinoids (endocannabinoids) anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonylglycerol (2-AG) exert their effects predominantly through cannabinoid CB1 and CB2 receptors, but these actions are short-lived because of rapid hydrolysis by fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) and monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL), respectively. Selective inhibition of either enzyme elevates CNS levels of the appropriate endocannabinoid and produces analgesic effects with fewer psychomimetic side effects than Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary active constituent of marijuana. While cannabinoid receptor agonists and FAAH inhibitors reliably produce anti-inflammatory and anti-hyperalgesic effects in the carrageenan test and other inflammatory pain models, much less is known about the consequences of inhibiting MAGL in these assays. Here, we tested whether the selective MAGL inhibitor JZL184 would reduce nociceptive behavior in the carrageenan test. JZL184 significantly attenuated carrageenan-induced paw edema and mechanical allodynia, whether administered before or after carrageenan. Complementary genetic and pharmacological approaches revealed that JZL184’s anti-allodynic effects required both CB1 and CB2 receptors, but only CB2 receptors mediated its anti-edematous actions. Importantly, the anti-edematous and anti-allodynic effects of JZL184 underwent tolerance following repeated injections of high dose JZL184 (16 or 40 mg/kg), but repeated administration of low dose JZL184 (4 mg/kg) retained efficacy. Interestingly, the anti-allodynic effects of the combination of low dose of JZL184 (4mg/kg) and high dose of the selective and long-acting FAAH inhibitor PF-3845 (10 mg/kg) was augmented compared with each drug alone. On the contrary, the combination treatment did not reduce edema more than either JZL184 or PR-3845 given alone. These results suggest that low doses of MAGL inhibitors alone or in combination with FAAH inhibitors, reduce inflammatory nociception through the activation of both CB1 and CB2 receptors with no evidence of tolerance following repeated administration.