Source Paper
Cannabinoids promote embryonic and adult hippocampus neurogenesis and produce anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like effects
W. Jiang
Journal of Clinical Investigation • 2005
View Abstract
The hippocampal dentate gyrus in the adult mammalian brain contains neural stem/progenitor cells (NS/PCs) capable of generating new neurons, i.e., neurogenesis. Most drugs of abuse examined to date decrease adult hippocampal neurogenesis, but the effects of cannabis (marijuana or cannabinoids) on hippocampal neurogenesis remain unknown. This study aimed at investigating the potential regulatory capacity of the potent synthetic cannabinoid HU210 on hippocampal neurogenesis and its possible correlation with behavioral change. We show that both embryonic and adult rat hippocampal NS/PCs are immunoreactive for CB1 cannabinoid receptors, indicating that cannabinoids could act on CB1 receptors to regulate neurogenesis. This hypothesis is supported by further findings that HU210 promotes proliferation, but not differentiation, of cultured embryonic hippocampal NS/PCs likely via a sequential activation of CB1 receptors, G(i/o) proteins, and ERK signaling. Chronic, but not acute, HU210 treatment promoted neurogenesis in the hippocampal dentate gyrus of adult rats and exerted anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like effects. X-irradiation of the hippocampus blocked both the neurogenic and behavioral effects of chronic HU210 treatment, suggesting that chronic HU210 treatment produces anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like effects likely via promotion of hippocampal neurogenesis.
Hippocampal X-irradiation and Neurogenesis Ablation
Objective: To determine whether X-irradiation of the hippocampus blocks both the neurogenic and behavioral effects of chronic HU210 treatment, establishing that hippocampal neurogenesis is necessary for the anxiolytic and antidepressant-like effects of cannabinoids
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Equipment1
Not specified • Not specified • Not specified • Not mentioned
Materials1
Not specified • Not applicable • Not mentioned • Not mentioned
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Protocol Steps
Chronic HU210 treatment
Administer chronic HU210 treatment to adult rats
Note: Chronic, but not acute, HU210 treatment was used in this study
View evidence from paper
“Chronic, but not acute, HU210 treatment promoted neurogenesis in the hippocampal dentate gyrus of adult rats”
Hippocampal X-irradiation
Deliver X-irradiation to the hippocampus to ablate neurogenesis
Note: X-irradiation was used to block neurogenesis in the hippocampus prior to or concurrent with HU210 treatment
View evidence from paper
“X-irradiation of the hippocampus blocked both the neurogenic and behavioral effects of chronic HU210 treatment”
Behavioral assessment
Assess anxiolytic and antidepressant-like behavioral effects following HU210 treatment with and without X-irradiation
Note: Behavioral testing was conducted to measure anxiolytic and antidepressant-like effects
View evidence from paper
“exerted anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like effects. X-irradiation of the hippocampus blocked both the neurogenic and behavioral effects”
Neurogenesis assessment
Measure neurogenesis in the hippocampal dentate gyrus following HU210 treatment with and without X-irradiation
Note: Neurogenesis was assessed in the hippocampal dentate gyrus to determine if X-irradiation blocked the neurogenic effects
View evidence from paper
“X-irradiation of the hippocampus blocked both the neurogenic and behavioral effects of chronic HU210 treatment”