Glucocorticoid regulation of cannabinoid receptor messenger RNA levels in the rat caudate-putamen. An in situ hybridization study

https://doi.org/10.1016/0304-3940(93)90437-PGet rights and content

Abstract

The influence of adrenalectomy on cannabinoid receptor gene expression in the adult rat dorsal striatum was investigated by in situ hybridization with specific oligonucleotide probes. The caudate-putamen of adrenalectomized rats contains ∼50% significantly higher mRNA levels than the controls. This increase could be counteracted by dexamethasone treatment. Together, these results suggest glucocorticoid down-regulation of cannabinoid receptor gene expression in the striatum.

Cited by (47)

  • Endocannabinoids: Effectors of glucocorticoid signaling

    2017, Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology
    Citation Excerpt :

    However, the relationship between GCs and the eCB system is not always straightforward, and involves reciprocal regulatory interactions as well as both genomic and non-genomic signaling mechanisms, which are often times divergent. This is exemplified by studies demonstrating that, through genomic signaling mechanisms, GCs can suppress eCB signaling by downregulating CB1 receptor expression (Mailleux and Vanderhaeghen, 1993; Wamsteeker et al., 2010). By contrast, through non-genomic signaling mechanisms, GCs enhance eCB signaling by mobilizing AEA and 2-AG (Bowles et al., 2015; Hill et al., 2011, 2010a; Morena et al., 2016).

  • Sexually-dimorphic alterations in cannabinoid receptor density depend upon prenatal/early postnatal history

    2016, Neurotoxicology and Teratology
    Citation Excerpt :

    There is a clear need to investigate the sparing of the female n. accumbens from the effects of early stress to understand why significant changes in rearing conditions do not produce alterations in the endocannabinoid system, which we can detect with our methods. However, since maternal adrenalectomy results in a dramatic increase in CB1R in caudate putamen (Mailleux and Vanderhaeghen, 1993), our results in males showing a decrease following maternal intubations (which presumably increase corticosterone levels) is consistent with the idea that glucocorticoids regulate CB1R in caudate during fetal development. Sex differences in the endocannabinoid system and the behavioral effects of exogenous cannabinoids have been known for many years (see review by Fattore and Fratta, 2010).

  • Pharmacology of cognitive enhancers for exposure-based therapy of fear, anxiety and trauma-related disorders

    2015, Pharmacology and Therapeutics
    Citation Excerpt :

    In addition, membrane-bound GRs can induce non-genomic actions of relevance to extinction, including the synthesis of eCBs (see Section 4.6 Cannabinoids) from membrane phospholipids (Di et al., 2003; Hill et al., 2005, 2011). Further supporting a link between GRs and eCBs, and possibly of importance in GC-augmented extinction consolidation, adrenalectomy leads to reduced CB-1 receptor expression (Mailleux & Vanderhaeghen, 1993) and GC-mediated memory consolidation is prevented by CB-1 receptor antagonists (Campolongo et al., 2009). GRs can also induce indirect learning-relevant genomic actions via activation of intracellular signaling cascades such as the ERK/MAPK pathway (reviewed in Reul, 2014) in cooperation with other neurotransmitter systems or ion channels including β-adrenoceptors (Roozendaal et al., 2008), and L-type calcium channels (Karst et al., 2002).

View all citing articles on Scopus
View full text