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Cannabinoid receptor agonists potentiate action potential‐independent release of GABA in the dentate gyrus through a CB1 receptor‐independent mechanism
Author(s) -
Hofmann Mackenzie E.,
Bhatia Chinki,
Frazier Charles J.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
the journal of physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.802
H-Index - 240
eISSN - 1469-7793
pISSN - 0022-3751
DOI - 10.1113/jphysiol.2011.211482
Subject(s) - cannabinoid receptor , neuroscience , endocannabinoid system , cannabinoid , gpr18 , neurotransmission , receptor , dentate gyrus , depolarization induced suppression of inhibition , mechanism (biology) , central nervous system , biology , chemistry , agonist , biochemistry , philosophy , epistemology
Non‐technical summary Communication between many types of neurons in the brain can be strongly modulated by activation of cannabinoid receptors. Such receptors are likely to be responsible for mediating many of the effects of marijuana on the central nervous system, and yet they can also be activated by both endogenous and synthetic compounds. Here we describe a novel effect of two well‐known cannabinoid receptor ligands on spontaneous synaptic transmission in an area of the brain that is essential for the formation of new memories, and that is strongly implicated in the aetiology of temporal lobe epilepsy. Interestingly, this effect appears to be receptor dependent, and yet does not require any currently known cannabinoid receptor. Further exploration of this phenomenon may help us better understand how spontaneous release of neurotransmitters is regulated in the central nervous system, and could also ultimately help to inform new strategies for therapeutic regulation of cortical excitability.