BDNF impairment in the hippocampus is related to enhanced despair behavior in CB1 knockout mice

Stress can cause damage and atrophy of neurons in the hippocampus by deregulating the expression of neurotrophic factors that promote neuronal plasticity. The endocannabinoid system represents a physiological substrate involved in neuroprotection at both cellular and emotional levels. The lack of CB...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Aso Pérez, Ester, Valverde Granados, Olga, Ozaita Mintegui, Andrés, 1969-, Maldonado, Rafael, 1961-, Pazos, Ángel, Ledent, Catherine, Valdizán, Elsa M.
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión enviada para evaluación y publicación
Fecha de publicación:2008
País:España
Institución:Universitat Pompeu Fabra
Repositorio:Repositorio Digital de la UPF
OAI Identifier:oai:repositori.upf.edu:10230/12419
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10230/12419
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-4159.2007.05149.x
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Estrès
Cannabinoides -- Receptors
CB1 cannabinoid receptor
Corticosterone
BDNF
CREB
TrkB
Stress
Descripción
Sumario:Stress can cause damage and atrophy of neurons in the hippocampus by deregulating the expression of neurotrophic factors that promote neuronal plasticity. The endocannabinoid system represents a physiological substrate involved in neuroprotection at both cellular and emotional levels. The lack of CB1 receptor alters neuronal plasticity and originates an anxiety-like phenotype in mice. In the present study, CB1 knockout mice exhibited an augmented response to stress revealed by the increased despair behavior and corticosterone levels showed in the tail suspension test and decreased brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels in the hippocampus. Interestingly, local administration of BDNF in the hippocampus reversed the increased despair behavior of CB1 knockout mice, confirming the crucial role played by BDNF on the emotional impairment of these mutants. The neurotrophic deficiency seems to be specific for BDNF since no differences were found in the levels of NGF and NT-3, two additional neurotrophic factors. Moreover, BDNF impairment is not related to the activity of its specific receptor TrkB or the activity of the transcription factor CREB. These results suggest that the lack of CB1 receptor originates an enhanced response to stress and neuronal plasticity by decreasing BDNF levels in the hippocampus that lead to impairment in the responses to emotional disturbances.