Interactions between endocannabinoids and stress-induced decreased sensitivity to natural reward. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2007 Apr 13;31(3):633-41
Date
01/30/2007Pubmed ID
17258369Pubmed Central ID
PMC1876712DOI
10.1016/j.pnpbp.2006.12.013Scopus ID
2-s2.0-33947536045 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 70 CitationsAbstract
Since endocannabinoids modulate reward processing and the stress response, we tested the hypothesis that endocannabinoids regulate stress-induced decreased sensitivity to natural reward. Restraint was used to produce stress-induced reductions in sucrose consumption and preference in male mice. Central cannabinoid receptor (CB(1)) signaling was modulated pharmacologically prior to the application of stress. The preference for sucrose over water was significantly decreased in mice exposed to restraint. Treatment of mice with a cannabinoid receptor agonist (CP55940) or fatty acid amide hydrolase inhibitor (URB597) attenuated, while the CB(1) receptor antagonist/inverse agonist, rimonabant (SR141716), enhanced, stress-induced decreases in sucrose preference. These data are consistent with a tonically active, stress-inhibitory role for the CB(1) receptor. Mice treated with 10 daily episodes of restraint showed reduced sucrose preference that was unaffected by CP55940 and URB597. However, rimonabant produced a greater reduction in sucrose preference on day 10 compared to day 1. These data suggest that on day 10, endocannabinoid signaling is maximally activated and essential for reward sensitivity. The findings of the present study indicate that the CB(1)/endocannabinoid signaling system is an important allostatic mediator that both modulates the responses of mice to stress and is itself modulated by stress.
Author List
Rademacher DJ, Hillard CJAuthor
Cecilia J. Hillard PhD Associate Dean, Center Director, Professor in the Pharmacology and Toxicology department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
Analysis of VarianceAnimals
Behavior, Animal
Benzamides
Body Weight
Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators
Carbamates
Cyclohexanes
Cyclohexanols
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
Drinking Behavior
Drug Interactions
Endocannabinoids
Food Deprivation
Food Preferences
Male
Mice
Mice, Inbred ICR
Phenols
Piperidines
Pyrazoles
Restraint, Physical
Reward
Stress, Psychological
Sucrose
Time Factors
Water Deprivation