GABAergic and cortical and subcortical glutamatergic axon terminals contain CB1 cannabinoid receptors in the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus.

<h4>Background</h4>Type-1 cannabinoid receptors (CB(1)R) are enriched in the hypothalamus, particularly in the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMH) that participates in homeostatic and behavioral functions including food intake. Although CB(1)R activation modulates excitatory and inhi...

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Main Authors: Leire Reguero, Nagore Puente, Izaskun Elezgarai, Juan Mendizabal-Zubiaga, Miren Josune Canduela, Ianire Buceta, Almudena Ramos, Juan Suárez, Fernando Rodríguez de Fonseca, Giovanni Marsicano, Pedro Grandes
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2011-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmid/22022550/?tool=EBI
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author Leire Reguero
Nagore Puente
Izaskun Elezgarai
Juan Mendizabal-Zubiaga
Miren Josune Canduela
Ianire Buceta
Almudena Ramos
Juan Suárez
Fernando Rodríguez de Fonseca
Giovanni Marsicano
Pedro Grandes
author_facet Leire Reguero
Nagore Puente
Izaskun Elezgarai
Juan Mendizabal-Zubiaga
Miren Josune Canduela
Ianire Buceta
Almudena Ramos
Juan Suárez
Fernando Rodríguez de Fonseca
Giovanni Marsicano
Pedro Grandes
author_sort Leire Reguero
collection DOAJ
description <h4>Background</h4>Type-1 cannabinoid receptors (CB(1)R) are enriched in the hypothalamus, particularly in the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMH) that participates in homeostatic and behavioral functions including food intake. Although CB(1)R activation modulates excitatory and inhibitory synaptic transmission in the brain, CB(1)R contribution to the molecular architecture of the excitatory and inhibitory synaptic terminals in the VMH is not known. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the precise subcellular distribution of CB(1)R in the VMH to better understand the modulation exerted by the endocannabinoid system on the complex brain circuitries converging into this nucleus.<h4>Methodology/principal findings</h4>Light and electron microscopy techniques were used to analyze CB(1)R distribution in the VMH of CB(1)R-WT, CB(1)R-KO and conditional mutant mice bearing a selective deletion of CB(1)R in cortical glutamatergic (Glu-CB(1)R-KO) or GABAergic neurons (GABA-CB(1)R-KO). At light microscopy, CB(1)R immunolabeling was observed in the VMH of CB(1)R-WT and Glu-CB(1)R-KO animals, being remarkably reduced in GABA-CB(1)R-KO mice. In the electron microscope, CB(1)R appeared in membranes of both glutamatergic and GABAergic terminals/preterminals. There was no significant difference in the percentage of CB(1)R immunopositive profiles and CB(1)R density in terminals making asymmetric or symmetric synapses in CB(1)R-WT mice. Furthermore, the proportion of CB(1)R immunopositive terminals/preterminals in CB(1)R-WT and Glu-CB(1)R-KO mice was reduced in GABA-CB(1)R-KO mutants. CB(1)R density was similar in all animal conditions. Finally, the percentage of CB(1)R labeled boutons making asymmetric synapses slightly decreased in Glu-CB(1)R-KO mutants relative to CB(1)R-WT mice, indicating that CB(1)R was distributed in cortical and subcortical excitatory synaptic terminals.<h4>Conclusions/significance</h4>Our anatomical results support the idea that the VMH is a relevant hub candidate in the endocannabinoid-mediated modulation of the excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission of cortical and subcortical pathways regulating essential hypothalamic functions for the individual's survival such as the feeding behavior.
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spelling doaj.art-c1db0c83ecae420b94e4c7b547cf87432022-12-21T22:53:46ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032011-01-01610e2616710.1371/journal.pone.0026167GABAergic and cortical and subcortical glutamatergic axon terminals contain CB1 cannabinoid receptors in the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus.Leire RegueroNagore PuenteIzaskun ElezgaraiJuan Mendizabal-ZubiagaMiren Josune CanduelaIanire BucetaAlmudena RamosJuan SuárezFernando Rodríguez de FonsecaGiovanni MarsicanoPedro Grandes<h4>Background</h4>Type-1 cannabinoid receptors (CB(1)R) are enriched in the hypothalamus, particularly in the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMH) that participates in homeostatic and behavioral functions including food intake. Although CB(1)R activation modulates excitatory and inhibitory synaptic transmission in the brain, CB(1)R contribution to the molecular architecture of the excitatory and inhibitory synaptic terminals in the VMH is not known. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the precise subcellular distribution of CB(1)R in the VMH to better understand the modulation exerted by the endocannabinoid system on the complex brain circuitries converging into this nucleus.<h4>Methodology/principal findings</h4>Light and electron microscopy techniques were used to analyze CB(1)R distribution in the VMH of CB(1)R-WT, CB(1)R-KO and conditional mutant mice bearing a selective deletion of CB(1)R in cortical glutamatergic (Glu-CB(1)R-KO) or GABAergic neurons (GABA-CB(1)R-KO). At light microscopy, CB(1)R immunolabeling was observed in the VMH of CB(1)R-WT and Glu-CB(1)R-KO animals, being remarkably reduced in GABA-CB(1)R-KO mice. In the electron microscope, CB(1)R appeared in membranes of both glutamatergic and GABAergic terminals/preterminals. There was no significant difference in the percentage of CB(1)R immunopositive profiles and CB(1)R density in terminals making asymmetric or symmetric synapses in CB(1)R-WT mice. Furthermore, the proportion of CB(1)R immunopositive terminals/preterminals in CB(1)R-WT and Glu-CB(1)R-KO mice was reduced in GABA-CB(1)R-KO mutants. CB(1)R density was similar in all animal conditions. Finally, the percentage of CB(1)R labeled boutons making asymmetric synapses slightly decreased in Glu-CB(1)R-KO mutants relative to CB(1)R-WT mice, indicating that CB(1)R was distributed in cortical and subcortical excitatory synaptic terminals.<h4>Conclusions/significance</h4>Our anatomical results support the idea that the VMH is a relevant hub candidate in the endocannabinoid-mediated modulation of the excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission of cortical and subcortical pathways regulating essential hypothalamic functions for the individual's survival such as the feeding behavior.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmid/22022550/?tool=EBI
spellingShingle Leire Reguero
Nagore Puente
Izaskun Elezgarai
Juan Mendizabal-Zubiaga
Miren Josune Canduela
Ianire Buceta
Almudena Ramos
Juan Suárez
Fernando Rodríguez de Fonseca
Giovanni Marsicano
Pedro Grandes
GABAergic and cortical and subcortical glutamatergic axon terminals contain CB1 cannabinoid receptors in the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus.
PLoS ONE
title GABAergic and cortical and subcortical glutamatergic axon terminals contain CB1 cannabinoid receptors in the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus.
title_full GABAergic and cortical and subcortical glutamatergic axon terminals contain CB1 cannabinoid receptors in the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus.
title_fullStr GABAergic and cortical and subcortical glutamatergic axon terminals contain CB1 cannabinoid receptors in the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus.
title_full_unstemmed GABAergic and cortical and subcortical glutamatergic axon terminals contain CB1 cannabinoid receptors in the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus.
title_short GABAergic and cortical and subcortical glutamatergic axon terminals contain CB1 cannabinoid receptors in the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus.
title_sort gabaergic and cortical and subcortical glutamatergic axon terminals contain cb1 cannabinoid receptors in the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmid/22022550/?tool=EBI
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