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Modulation of the exocytotic and carrier-mediated transmitter release by endogenous and exogenously added cannabinoids

Subject Area Molecular Biology and Physiology of Neurons and Glial Cells
Term from 2008 to 2012
Project identifier Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 42860621
 
Final Report Year 2017

Final Report Abstract

This project was dedicated to the delineation of the effects of endocannabinoids in tissues. It was shown previously that virodhamine is converted to a prostacyclin-like compound and the question arose whether a conversion to prostaglandins of the E series might occur as well. However, unlike prostaglandin E2, which markedly inhibited transmitter release in mouse tissues, virodhamine failed to do so. Next, the metabolically stable analogue of anandamide (R-methandamide) and a synthetic cannabinoid agonist showed an attenuated effect in a CB1 receptor model in rats anaesthetized with urethane when compared to rats treated with pentobarbital instead. We have shown in two in vitro CB1 receptor models that this discrepancy cannot be ascribed to an affinity or potency of urethane at CB1 receptors. The second part of the project was dedicated to the inverse CB1 receptor agonist rimonabant. This compound increased noradrenaline release in guinea pig hippocampal slices and this effect was mimicked by the neutral CB1 receptor antagonist O-2050, suggesting that the stimulatory effect is caused by the interruption of a tonical inhibition of transmitter release elicited by endogenously formed endocannabinoids and not by the inverse agonistic effect of rimonabant. Finally, the inhibition of acetylcholine release by a muscarinic receptor agonist was more pronounced in hippocampal slices from mice in which the CB1 receptor was genetically ablated or blocked by rimonabant, suggesting that the presynaptic muscarinic and CB1 receptors do not act independently from each other.

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