Functional Relevance of Endocannabinoid-Dependent Synaptic Plasticity in the Central Nervous System

• Published in: ACS chemical neuroscience Vol. 9; no. 9; pp. 2146 - 2161
• Main Authors: Augustin, Shana M, Lovinger, David M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Chemical Society 19.09.2018
• Subjects: Amygdala - metabolism; Amygdala - physiology; Animals; Arachidonic Acids - metabolism; Arachidonic Acids - physiology; Behavior, Addictive - metabolism; Behavior, Addictive - physiopathology; Brain - metabolism; Brain - physiology; Cerebellum - metabolism; Cerebellum - physiology; Cerebral Cortex - metabolism; Cerebral Cortex - physiology; Conditioning, Psychological - physiology; Corpus Striatum - metabolism; Corpus Striatum - physiology; Endocannabinoids - metabolism; Endocannabinoids - physiology; Extinction, Psychological - physiology; Fear; Glycerides - metabolism; Glycerides - physiology; Goals; Hippocampus - metabolism; Hippocampus - physiology; Humans; Neural Pathways; Neuronal Plasticity; Polyunsaturated Alkamides - metabolism; Receptors, Cannabinoid - metabolism; Receptors, Cannabinoid - physiology; Reward; Spatial Learning - physiology; Ventral Striatum - metabolism; Ventral Striatum - physiology; Arachidonoylethanolamine; long-term depression; depolarization-induced suppression of inhibition; cannabinoid receptors; depolarization-induced suppression of excitation; 2-arachidonoylglycerol; long-term potentiation
• ISSN: 1948-7193; 1948-7193
• DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.7b00508

The endocannabinoid (eCB) signaling system plays a key role in short-term and long-term synaptic plasticity in brain regions involved in various neural functions ranging from action selection to appetite control. This review will explore the role of eCBs in shaping neural circuit function to regulate behaviors. In particular, we will discuss the behavioral consequences of eCB mediated long-term synaptic plasticity in different brain regions. This review brings together evidence from in vitro and ex vivo studies and points out the need for more in vivo studies.