Estrogenic regulation of limbic cannabinoid receptor binding. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2010 Sep;35(8):1265-9
Date
03/09/2010Pubmed ID
20207489Pubmed Central ID
PMC2933663DOI
10.1016/j.psyneuen.2010.02.008Scopus ID
2-s2.0-77955578727 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 115 CitationsAbstract
Sex differences have been identified in many of the behavioral and physiological effects of cannabinoids. While estrogen has been linked to some of these variations, the effects of estrogen on cannabinoid receptor binding have not been characterized within regions of the brain specifically implicated in stress responsivity and emotional behavior. To examine sex differences, and the role of estradiol, in regulation of the cannabinoid receptor, we compared the binding site density of the cannabinoid receptor within the amygdala, hippocampus and hypothalamus in males, cycling females, ovariectomized (OVX) females and estradiol-treated OVX females (OVX+E). Our data reveal that males and OVX females have higher amounts of hypothalamic and lower amounts of amygdalar cannabinoid receptor binding relative to both cycling females and OVX+E females. Within the hippocampus, ovariectomy resulted in an upregulation of cannabinoid receptor binding. These data provide a putative biochemical mechanism mediating the observed behavioral and physiological sex differences in the effects of cannabinoids, particularly with respect to stress and emotional behavior.
Author List
Riebe CJ, Hill MN, Lee TT, Hillard CJ, Gorzalka BBAuthor
Cecilia J. Hillard PhD Professor in the Pharmacology and Toxicology department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AmygdalaAnimals
Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists
Estradiol
Estrous Cycle
Female
Hippocampus
Hypothalamus
Limbic System
Male
Ovariectomy
Protein Binding
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Receptors, Cannabinoid
