Endocannabinoid metabolism inhibition has no effect on spontaneous fear recovery or extinction resistance in Lister hooded rats

Endocannabinoid transmission is emerging as a target for treating anxiety-related disorders, given its regulation of fear extinction. Boosting anandamide levels via inhibition of its metabolism by fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) can enhance extinction, whereas inhibiting monoacylglycerol lipase (M...

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Main Authors: William G. Warren, Eleni P. Papagianni, Ed Hale, Rebecca A. Brociek, Helen J. Cassaday, Carl W. Stevenson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2022-12-01
Series:Frontiers in Pharmacology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2022.1082760/full
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author William G. Warren
Eleni P. Papagianni
Ed Hale
Rebecca A. Brociek
Helen J. Cassaday
Carl W. Stevenson
author_facet William G. Warren
Eleni P. Papagianni
Ed Hale
Rebecca A. Brociek
Helen J. Cassaday
Carl W. Stevenson
author_sort William G. Warren
collection DOAJ
description Endocannabinoid transmission is emerging as a target for treating anxiety-related disorders, given its regulation of fear extinction. Boosting anandamide levels via inhibition of its metabolism by fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) can enhance extinction, whereas inhibiting monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) to elevate 2-arachidonoylglycerol levels can impair extinction. However, whether endocannabinoids regulate fear relapse over time or extinction resistance remains unclear. In two experiments using auditory fear conditioned rats, we examined the effects of the FAAH inhibitor URB597 and the MAGL inhibitor JZL184 administered systemically on 1) spontaneous fear recovery after delayed extinction, and 2) extinction resistance resulting from immediate extinction [the immediate extinction deficit (IED)]. In Experiment 1, URB597 or JZL184 was given immediately after delayed extinction occurring 24 h after conditioning. Extinction recall and spontaneous fear recovery were tested drug-free 1 and 21 days later, respectively. We found no effects of either drug on extinction recall or spontaneous fear recovery. In Experiment 2, URB597 or JZL184 was given before immediate extinction occurring 30 min after conditioning and extinction recall was tested drug-free the next day. We also examined the effects of propranolol, a beta-adrenoceptor antagonist that can rescue the IED, as a positive control. JZL184 enhanced fear expression and impaired extinction learning but we found no lasting effects of URB597 or JZL184 on cued extinction recall. Propranolol reduced fear expression but, unexpectedly, had no enduring effect on extinction recall. The results are discussed in relation to various methodological differences between previous studies examining endocannabinoid and adrenergic regulation of fear extinction.
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spelling doaj.art-8a98b611d0b04ddcae270002884c0baf2022-12-22T03:53:56ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Pharmacology1663-98122022-12-011310.3389/fphar.2022.10827601082760Endocannabinoid metabolism inhibition has no effect on spontaneous fear recovery or extinction resistance in Lister hooded ratsWilliam G. Warren0Eleni P. Papagianni1Ed Hale2Rebecca A. Brociek3Helen J. Cassaday4Carl W. Stevenson5School of Biosciences, Sutton Bonington Campus, University of Nottingham, Loughborough, United KingdomSchool of Biosciences, Sutton Bonington Campus, University of Nottingham, Loughborough, United KingdomSchool of Biosciences, Sutton Bonington Campus, University of Nottingham, Loughborough, United KingdomSchool of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, United KingdomSchool of Psychology, University Park, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United KingdomSchool of Biosciences, Sutton Bonington Campus, University of Nottingham, Loughborough, United KingdomEndocannabinoid transmission is emerging as a target for treating anxiety-related disorders, given its regulation of fear extinction. Boosting anandamide levels via inhibition of its metabolism by fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) can enhance extinction, whereas inhibiting monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) to elevate 2-arachidonoylglycerol levels can impair extinction. However, whether endocannabinoids regulate fear relapse over time or extinction resistance remains unclear. In two experiments using auditory fear conditioned rats, we examined the effects of the FAAH inhibitor URB597 and the MAGL inhibitor JZL184 administered systemically on 1) spontaneous fear recovery after delayed extinction, and 2) extinction resistance resulting from immediate extinction [the immediate extinction deficit (IED)]. In Experiment 1, URB597 or JZL184 was given immediately after delayed extinction occurring 24 h after conditioning. Extinction recall and spontaneous fear recovery were tested drug-free 1 and 21 days later, respectively. We found no effects of either drug on extinction recall or spontaneous fear recovery. In Experiment 2, URB597 or JZL184 was given before immediate extinction occurring 30 min after conditioning and extinction recall was tested drug-free the next day. We also examined the effects of propranolol, a beta-adrenoceptor antagonist that can rescue the IED, as a positive control. JZL184 enhanced fear expression and impaired extinction learning but we found no lasting effects of URB597 or JZL184 on cued extinction recall. Propranolol reduced fear expression but, unexpectedly, had no enduring effect on extinction recall. The results are discussed in relation to various methodological differences between previous studies examining endocannabinoid and adrenergic regulation of fear extinction.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2022.1082760/full2-arachidonoylglycerolanandamideanxietycannabinoidfatty acid amide hydrolaseimmediate extinction deficit
spellingShingle William G. Warren
Eleni P. Papagianni
Ed Hale
Rebecca A. Brociek
Helen J. Cassaday
Carl W. Stevenson
Endocannabinoid metabolism inhibition has no effect on spontaneous fear recovery or extinction resistance in Lister hooded rats
Frontiers in Pharmacology
2-arachidonoylglycerol
anandamide
anxiety
cannabinoid
fatty acid amide hydrolase
immediate extinction deficit
title Endocannabinoid metabolism inhibition has no effect on spontaneous fear recovery or extinction resistance in Lister hooded rats
title_full Endocannabinoid metabolism inhibition has no effect on spontaneous fear recovery or extinction resistance in Lister hooded rats
title_fullStr Endocannabinoid metabolism inhibition has no effect on spontaneous fear recovery or extinction resistance in Lister hooded rats
title_full_unstemmed Endocannabinoid metabolism inhibition has no effect on spontaneous fear recovery or extinction resistance in Lister hooded rats
title_short Endocannabinoid metabolism inhibition has no effect on spontaneous fear recovery or extinction resistance in Lister hooded rats
title_sort endocannabinoid metabolism inhibition has no effect on spontaneous fear recovery or extinction resistance in lister hooded rats
topic 2-arachidonoylglycerol
anandamide
anxiety
cannabinoid
fatty acid amide hydrolase
immediate extinction deficit
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2022.1082760/full
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