ENDOCANNABINOIDS REGULATE VASOTOCIN SIGNALING USING A NOVEL NEUROMODULATORY MECHANISM

Abstract

Event Abstract Back to Event ENDOCANNABINOIDS REGULATE VASOTOCIN SIGNALING USING A NOVEL NEUROMODULATORY MECHANISM Erin McEvoy1, Sarah Sonnenfeld1, E. K. Dolence2 and Emma Coddington1* 1 Willamette University, Biology Department, United States 2 University of Wyoming, School of Pharmacy, United States Cannabinoids play many different roles in the brain and can affect a wide range of behaviors. The connection between the behavioral effects and the cellular mechanisms used by cannabinoids remains a mystery in most cases. This study used Taricha granulosa (roughskin newt) to investigate the cellular mechanism by which cannabinoids suppress the effects of a behavior-enhancing hormone, vasotocin (VT). Previous studies using Taricha demonstrate that the typical clasp-enhancing effects of VT are blocked by cannabinoid agonists. We hypothesized that cannabinoids suppress behavioral effects of VT by blocking VT signaling in the clasp-controlling neurons of the hindbrain. Other researchers using cell culture have shown that complete signaling by the mammalian homologue vasopressin requires endocytosis and internalization of vesicles containing vasopressin and its V1a receptors. Thus, we predicted that by imaging VT tagged to a fluorescent probe, Oregon green (OG), we could visualize the effects of cannabinoids on VT internalization. Animals were cannulated and received a high (100ng/µl), medium (5ng/µl), low (100pg/µl), or control dose of the cannabinoid agonist CP 55,940, followed by VT-OG (40ng/µl). Brains were removed 30 min post-VT-OG, then fixed, frozen, sliced, and imaged on a confocal microscope. Each image was analyzed for sum intensity and area percent to quantify the amount of VT internalized in the experimental (rostral reticular formation, Rf) and control (inferior reticular formation, Ri) brain regions. Our results showed that the cannabinoid agonist suppressed VT internalization in a dose dependent manner in the Rf and Ri regions. This is the first evidence showing that cannabinoids can block hormone action by interfering with hormone-receptor signaling. Acknowledgements Supported by NSF IOS-0817785 ROA supplement to H.Eisthen; Rodgers Family Student Collaborative Research Program, Willamette University to EM and SS; Marine Biological Laboratory to EJC. Keywords: cannabinoid, Corticosterone, endocannabinoid, glucocorticoid, receptor, signaling, stress, vasopressin Conference: ISAREN 2011: 7th International Symposium on Amphibian and Reptilian Endocrinology and Neurobiology, Ann Arbor, United States, 11 Jul - 13 Jul, 2011. Presentation Type: Oral Presentation Topic: Brain and behavior Citation: McEvoy E, Sonnenfeld S, Dolence EK and Coddington E (2011). ENDOCANNABINOIDS REGULATE VASOTOCIN SIGNALING USING A NOVEL NEUROMODULATORY MECHANISM. Front. Endocrinol. Conference Abstract: ISAREN 2011: 7th International Symposium on Amphibian and Reptilian Endocrinology and Neurobiology. doi: 10.3389/conf.fendo.2011.03.00030 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 21 Jul 2011; Published Online: 09 Aug 2011. * Correspondence: Dr. Emma Coddington, Willamette University, Biology Department, Salem, OR, 97301, United States, resilience4DJ@gmail.com Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Erin McEvoy Sarah Sonnenfeld E. K Dolence Emma Coddington Google Erin McEvoy Sarah Sonnenfeld E. K Dolence Emma Coddington Google Scholar Erin McEvoy Sarah Sonnenfeld E. K Dolence Emma Coddington PubMed Erin McEvoy Sarah Sonnenfeld E. K Dolence Emma Coddington Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.