Inhibition of FAAH during a trauma prevents the development of sleep disturbances

Abstract

Event Abstract Back to Event Inhibition of FAAH during a trauma prevents the development of sleep disturbances K. Spitzer1*, V. Humli1, T. T. Nguyen2, A. Szőke2, J. Haller3 and S. Kántor4 1 Eotvos Lorand University, Hungary 2 Semmelweis University, Hungary 3 Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Hungary 4 Pazmany Peter Catholic University, Hungary Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that results from exposure to a traumatic event. Besides distress, PTSD is characterized by cognitive dysfunctions and severe sleep disturbances. Since the cannabinoid CB1 receptor play a central role in trauma-induced plastic changes in the brain that lead to PTSD and CB1 receptors are present in sleep-wake centers of the brain, we hypothesized that an enhanced endocannabinoid signaling during a traumatic event affects the development of PTSD sleep symptoms. To test our hypothesis, we studied the effect of the fatty acid amide hydrolase enzyme inhibitor URB-597 on contextual conditioned fear responses in mice. We instrumented 18 weeks old, male, CD1 mice with EEG/EMG electrodes, and after recovery, we exposed them to a brief session of electric foot-shocks. 40 min before shock exposure, we injected the mice with URB-597 (0.3 mg/kg, i.p.) or vehicle. Sleep/wake behavior was recorded in mice for 24 hours in their home cages a day before (baseline day), a day after and 14 days after the trauma. The re-exposure to the shock context caused hypervigilance in vehicle but not in URB597 treated mice 14 days after the trauma. REM sleep was also reduced in these mice, which effect was prevented by URB597 treatment. These results suggest that an increased endocannabinoid signaling during the trauma alleviates the sleep symptoms of a subsequent PTSD and may explain the interindividual differences in responses to traumatic events. Keywords: disorders, Neuroscience Conference: 13th Conference of the Hungarian Neuroscience Society (MITT), Budapest, Hungary, 20 Jan - 22 Jan, 2011. Presentation Type: Abstract Topic: Disorders Citation: Spitzer K, Humli V, Nguyen TT, Szőke A, Haller J and Kántor S (2011). Inhibition of FAAH during a trauma prevents the development of sleep disturbances. Front. Neurosci. Conference Abstract: 13th Conference of the Hungarian Neuroscience Society (MITT). doi: 10.3389/conf.fnins.2011.84.00035 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: 03 Mar 2011; Published Online: 23 Mar 2011. * Correspondence: Dr. K. Spitzer, Eotvos Lorand University, Budapest, Hungary, klaudia.spitzer@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 K. Spitzer V. Humli T. T Nguyen A. Szőke J. Haller S. Kántor Google K. Spitzer V. Humli T. T Nguyen A. Szőke J. Haller S. Kántor Google Scholar K. Spitzer V. Humli T. T Nguyen A. Szőke J. Haller S. Kántor PubMed K. Spitzer V. Humli T. T Nguyen A. Szőke J. Haller S. Kántor 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.