Endocannabinoids and the processing of value-related signals
Endocannabinoids serve as retrograde signaling molecules at many synapses within the CNS, particularly GABAergic and glutamatergic synapses. Synapses onto midbrain dopamine (DA) neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) make no exception to this rule. In fact, the effects of cannabinoids on dopami...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2012-02-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Pharmacology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fphar.2012.00007/full |
| _version_ | 1819019168389791744 |
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| author | Miriam eMelis Miriam eMelis Anna Lisa eMuntoni Anna Lisa eMuntoni Marco ePistis Marco ePistis Marco ePistis |
| author_facet | Miriam eMelis Miriam eMelis Anna Lisa eMuntoni Anna Lisa eMuntoni Marco ePistis Marco ePistis Marco ePistis |
| author_sort | Miriam eMelis |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Endocannabinoids serve as retrograde signaling molecules at many synapses within the CNS, particularly GABAergic and glutamatergic synapses. Synapses onto midbrain dopamine (DA) neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) make no exception to this rule. In fact, the effects of cannabinoids on dopamine transmission as well as DA-related behaviors are generally exerted through the modulation of inhibitory and excitatory afferents impinging onto DA neurons. Endocannabinoids, by regulating different forms of synaptic plasticity in the VTA, provide a critical modulation of the DA neuron output and, ultimately, of the systems driving and regulating motivated behaviors. Because DA cells exhibit diverse states of activity, which crucially depend on their intrinsic properties and afferent drive, the understanding of the role played by endocannabinoids in synaptic modulations is critical for their overall functions. Particularly, endocannabinoids by selectively inhibiting afferent activity may alter the functional states of DA neurons and potentiate the responsiveness of the reward system to phasic DA. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T03:31:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0e8829ff7d964cc2b06aa117b0f20d00 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1663-9812 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T03:31:01Z |
| publishDate | 2012-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Pharmacology |
| spelling | doaj.art-0e8829ff7d964cc2b06aa117b0f20d002022-12-21T19:17:28ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Pharmacology1663-98122012-02-01310.3389/fphar.2012.0000720228Endocannabinoids and the processing of value-related signalsMiriam eMelis0Miriam eMelis1Anna Lisa eMuntoni2Anna Lisa eMuntoni3Marco ePistis4Marco ePistis5Marco ePistis6University of CagliariConsiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (C.N.R.)Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (C.N.R.)University of CagliariUniversity of CagliariConsiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (C.N.R.)University of CagliariEndocannabinoids serve as retrograde signaling molecules at many synapses within the CNS, particularly GABAergic and glutamatergic synapses. Synapses onto midbrain dopamine (DA) neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) make no exception to this rule. In fact, the effects of cannabinoids on dopamine transmission as well as DA-related behaviors are generally exerted through the modulation of inhibitory and excitatory afferents impinging onto DA neurons. Endocannabinoids, by regulating different forms of synaptic plasticity in the VTA, provide a critical modulation of the DA neuron output and, ultimately, of the systems driving and regulating motivated behaviors. Because DA cells exhibit diverse states of activity, which crucially depend on their intrinsic properties and afferent drive, the understanding of the role played by endocannabinoids in synaptic modulations is critical for their overall functions. Particularly, endocannabinoids by selectively inhibiting afferent activity may alter the functional states of DA neurons and potentiate the responsiveness of the reward system to phasic DA.http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fphar.2012.00007/fullElectrophysiologyLTPLTD2-Arachidonoylglyceroldopamine neuronsoleoylethanolamide |
| spellingShingle | Miriam eMelis Miriam eMelis Anna Lisa eMuntoni Anna Lisa eMuntoni Marco ePistis Marco ePistis Marco ePistis Endocannabinoids and the processing of value-related signals Frontiers in Pharmacology Electrophysiology LTP LTD 2-Arachidonoylglycerol dopamine neurons oleoylethanolamide |
| title | Endocannabinoids and the processing of value-related signals |
| title_full | Endocannabinoids and the processing of value-related signals |
| title_fullStr | Endocannabinoids and the processing of value-related signals |
| title_full_unstemmed | Endocannabinoids and the processing of value-related signals |
| title_short | Endocannabinoids and the processing of value-related signals |
| title_sort | endocannabinoids and the processing of value related signals |
| topic | Electrophysiology LTP LTD 2-Arachidonoylglycerol dopamine neurons oleoylethanolamide |
| url | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fphar.2012.00007/full |
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