Increased encoding of aversive stimuli by lateral habenula neurons during Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol withdrawal.

Eun-Kyung Hwang, Deborah Daphne, Charlie J. Maddox, Agustin Zapata, Alexander F. Hoffman, Carl R. Lupica

The lateral habenula (LHb) integrates cortical and basal forebrain (BF) input and is implicated in negative affective states, but its involvement in negative affect associated with cannabis withdrawal is unknown. Here, effects of withdrawal from the psychoactive cannabis constituent, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), on fear conditioning (FC) and LHb function were measured in rats using calcium photometry and elec…

Cannabidiol inhibits neuroinflammatory responses and circuit-associated synaptic loss following damage to a songbird vocal pre-motor cortical-like region.

Mark Tripson, Karen Litwa, Ken Soderstrom

The non-euphorigenic phytocannabinoid cannabidiol (CBD) has been used successfully to treat childhood-onset epilepsies. These conditions are associated with developmental delays that often include vocal learning. Zebra finch song, like language, is a complex behavior learned during a sensitive period of development. Song quality is maintained through continuous sensorimotor refinement involving circuits that contr…

Expression of feeding-related neuromodulatory signalling molecules in the mouse central olfactory system.

Yasuko Nogi, Md Monjurul Ahasan, Yoshihiro Murata, Mutsuo Taniguchi, Md Fazley Rabbi Sha, Chiori Ijichi +1 more

Various neural systems cooperate in feeding behaviour, and olfaction plays crucial roles in detecting and evaluating food objects. While odour-mediated feeding behaviour is highly adaptive and influenced by metabolic state, hedonic cues and learning processes, the underlying mechanism is not well understood. Feeding behaviour is regulated by orexigenic and anorexigenic neuromodulatory molecules. However, knowledge…

Effect of gut microbiota on depressive-like behaviors in mice is mediated by the endocannabinoid system.

Grégoire Chevalier, Eleni Siopi, Laure Guenin-Macé, Maud Pascal, Thomas Laval, Aline Rifflet +10 more

Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide. Recent observations have revealed an association between mood disorders and alterations of the intestinal microbiota. Here, using unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS) as a mouse model of depression, we show that UCMS mice display phenotypic alterations, which could be transferred from UCMS donors to naïve recipient mice by fecal microbiota transplantatio…

Endocannabinoid Mediates Excitatory Synaptic Function of β-Neurexins. Commentary: β-Neurexins Control Neural Circuits by Regulating Synaptic Endocannabinoid Signaling.

Hansen Wang