Faculty Collaboration Database

Circulating endocannabinoids and N-acyl ethanolamines are differentially regulated in major depression and following exposure to social stress. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2009 Sep;34(8):1257-62

Date

04/28/2009

Pubmed ID

19394765

Pubmed Central ID

PMC2716432

DOI

10.1016/j.psyneuen.2009.03.013

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-67650617724 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   245 Citations

Abstract

Central endocannabinoid signaling is known to be responsive to stressful stimuli; however, there is no research to date characterizing the effects of stress on peripheral endocannabinoid content. The current study examined serum content of the endocannabinoid ligands N-arachidonylethanolamide (anandamide; AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), and the non-cannabinoid N-acyl ethanolamine (NAE) molecules palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) and oleoylethanolamide (OEA) under basal conditions, immediately following the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST), and 30 min thereafter, in 15 medication-free women diagnosed with major depression, and 15 healthy matched controls. Basal serum concentrations of AEA and 2-AG, but not PEA or OEA, were significantly reduced in women with major depression relative to matched controls, indicating a deficit in peripheral endocannabinoid activity. Immediately following the TSST, serum 2-AG concentrations were increased compared to baseline; serum AEA concentration was unchanged at this time point. Serum concentrations of PEA and OEA were significantly lower than baseline 30 min following the cessation of the TSST. The magnitude of these responses did not differ between depressed and control subjects. These are the first data to demonstrate that the peripheral endocannabinoid/NAE system is responsive to exposure to stress.

Author List

Hill MN, Miller GE, Carrier EJ, Gorzalka BB, Hillard CJ

Author

Cecilia J. Hillard PhD Associate Dean, Center Director, Professor in the Pharmacology and Toxicology department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adult
Amides
Arachidonic Acids
Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators
Case-Control Studies
Depressive Disorder, Major
Endocannabinoids
Ethanolamines
Female
Glycerides
Humans
Oleic Acids
Palmitic Acids
Polyunsaturated Alkamides
Stress, Psychological