How The EndoCannabinoid System Controls Stress And Anxiety | Cannabinoid Tone In The Brain | FPS #6

3 years ago
131

Endocannabinoids - cannabinoids made in the body, by the body - are a Hot Topic in Neuroscience & Beyond - with Western & integrative medicine coming to embrace the role of these important compounds, the EndoCannabinoid system is emerging as a therapeutic target for treatment of several psychiatric disorders. However, endocannabinoid system research is limited by scientists' ability to translate these groundbreaking research discoveries into clinical treatments, mostly due to a lack of understanding of how this system is involved with basic physiological processes, including stress & anxiety.

In this episode, Dr. David Marcus - A recent graduate of the Neuroscience PhD Program at Vanderbilt University & 1st author of this episode's manuscript - joins us to speak about the recently published manuscript, "Endocannabinoid Signaling Collapse Mediates Stress-Induced Amygdalo-Cortical Strengthening", published in the journal Neuron.
https://www-sciencedirect-com.proxy1.lib.uwo.ca/science/article/pii/S0896627319310906

Highlights
• The BLA-plPFC circuit is engaged by stress exposure and its activation is anxiogenic
•Stress enhances glutamate release in a reciprocal BLA-plPFC-BLA subcircuit
•BLA-plPFC glutamatergic drive is constrained by multimodal 2-AG signaling
•2-AG signaling collapse mediates stress-induced circuit strengthening and anxiety

Abstract
Functional coupling between the amygdala and the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC) has been implicated in the generation of negative affective states; however, the mechanisms by which stress increases amygdala-dmPFC synaptic strength and generates anxiety-like behaviors are not well understood. Here, we show that the mouse basolateral amygdala (BLA)-prelimbic prefrontal cortex (plPFC) circuit is engaged by stress and activation of this pathway in anxiogenic. Furthermore, we demonstrate that acute stress exposure leads to a lasting increase in synaptic strength within a reciprocal BLA-plPFC-BLA subcircuit. Importantly, we identify 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG)-mediated endocannabinoid signaling as a key mechanism limiting glutamate release at BLA-plPFC synapses and the functional collapse of multimodal 2-AG signaling as a molecular mechanism leading to persistent circuit-specific synaptic strengthening and anxiety-like behaviors after stress exposure. These data suggest that circuit-specific impairment in 2-AG signaling could facilitate functional coupling between the BLA and plPFC and the translation of environmental stress to affective pathology.

Keywords
2-arachidonoylglycerol, glutamate, prefrontal cortex, anxiety, cannabinoid, amygdala, stress, optogenetics, cannabis, post traumatic stress disorder.

Interested in cutting-edge neuroscience research? Tired of exciting information being hidden behind those pesky paywalls? Introducing the First-Person Science Podcast: The 1st and only podcast dedicated to in-depth exploration of neuroscience research articles with first-hand perspectives and narratives from the authors themselves.

FPS introduces a new way to discover and engage with neuroscience research. We aim to break-down barriers to science communication by explaining jargon and complicated concepts in entertaining and succinct ways in a ‘journal club’ style to encourage collaboration and discussion between scientists and the public, alike.

In each episode, a scientist joins the show to speak about their recent ‘first-author’ manuscript. We walk viewers through each figure “1 bar graph at a time” using panel-to-panel summaries with video and visual illustrations to aid understanding of complex topics. View all figures and aspects of the research articles on our YT channel: youtube.com/firstpersonsciencepodcast

Listeners can expect to learn cool facts and get a general background for everything related to the episode's journal article through a visually immersive ‘journal club’ approach to the podcast, Ft. narratives and first-person perspectives from the authors/scientists themselves. It's a fine line to manage, but we're doing our best! And the more feedback from people from all levels of background/understanding, the better!

Listen to our podcast on itunes, spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Direct audio download link: https://firstpersonscience.podbean.com
RSS Feed: https://feed.podbean.com/firstpersonscience/feed.xml
Follow us on Twitter to stay up to date on the latest research: @firstpersonsci
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/First-Person-Science-106183617589132/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/firstpersonsciencepodcast/

Interested in increasing exposure for your published research? Curious about becoming involved with the show? Email us: firstpersonsciencepod@gmail.com.

Produced by Roger Hudson, PhDc

Loading comments...