Participation of endogenous cannabinoids in hypothalamo-pituitary adrenal axis regulation during chronic stress: studies in CB1 knockout mice
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1
Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Hungary
Nowadays cannabinoid regulated processes are in the focus of interest. As stress has an ethiopathogenetic role in many diseases we studied the role of endocannabinoid system in the regulation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. CB1-receptor knockout (KO) mice were used throughout. The circadian rhythmicity of plasma adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) and corticosterone levels and their insulin-induced hypoglycaemia stimulated release were similar in wild type (WT) and KO-mice. Restraint (R, daily 1h) was used chronically and the animals were examined on day 15. (at rest). Proopiomelanocortin mRNA in the adenohypophysis was independent from stress and genotype, while ACTH levels were elevated in KO-mice only. There was a tendency for elevated corticosterone plasma levels after 14R both in WT and KO-mice. We tested the behavior on 11. day (elevated plus maze). After 10R the animals spent more time in the open arm but their locomotion were also enhanced. The stressed mice showed higher risk assessment behavior. The KO-mice was more anxious irrespectively of stress. The WT-mice started to feed less during repeated restraint as signs of anhedonia with similar tendencies in KO. Typical somatic changes (body weight decrease, adrenal gland hypertrophy, thymus involution) were visible at the end of 14R without changes in KO-mice. We confirmed the role of CB1-receptors in anxiety as well as in maintenance of the basal HPA axis activity. The lifelong elevation in basal corticosterone levels in KO-mice may contribute to their anxiety. The signs of chronic stress developed in this mice strain without profound involvement of the CB1-receptors.
Conference:
12th Meeting of the Hungarian Neuroscience Society, Budapest, Hungary, 22 Jan - 24 Jan, 2009.
Presentation Type:
Poster Presentation
Topic:
Homeostatic regulatory mechanisms
Citation:
Trzozsek-S
U,
Mergl
Z,
Domokos
A and
Zelena
D
(2009). Participation of endogenous cannabinoids in hypothalamo-pituitary adrenal axis regulation during chronic stress: studies in CB1 knockout mice.
Front. Syst. Neurosci.
Conference Abstract:
12th Meeting of the Hungarian Neuroscience Society.
doi: 10.3389/conf.neuro.01.2009.04.023
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Received:
26 Feb 2009;
Published Online:
26 Feb 2009.
*
Correspondence:
Ursula Trzozsek-S, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary, ula-trzosek@freemail.hu