Sex differences in the cannabinoid regulation of energy homeostasis

Abstract

This review highlights the progress made thus far in characterizing the behavioral and cellular mechanisms through which cannabinoids regulate energy homeostasis. We performed microstructural analysis of feeding behavior in gonadectomized guinea pigs and gonadally intact, transgenic CB1 receptor knockout mice to determine how cannabinoids affect circadian rhythms in food intake and meal pattern. We also implanted data loggers into the abdominal cavity to correlate the appetite-modulating properties of cannabinoids with changes in core body temperature. We then coupled the effects on feeding behavior and temperature regulation with synaptic changes in the hypothalamic feeding circuitry via whole-cell patch clamp electrophysiological recording from neurons in the arcuate nucleus (ARC), in order to gain a more global perspective on the cannabinoid modulation of energy homeostasis. We observed marked sex differences in cannabinoid effects on food intake and core body temperature--with male guinea pigs exhibiting a comparatively greater sensitivity to the hyperphagia and hypophagia, as well as the hypothermia and hyperthermia, produced by CB1 receptor agonists and antagonists, respectively. In addition, male but not female CB1 receptor knockout mice show a diminished nocturnal food intake and average daily body weight relative to their wildtype littermate controls. The disparity in the CB1 receptor-mediated hyperphagia is paralleled by sex differences in the cellular effects of cannabinoids at anorexigenic, guinea pig proopiomelanocortin (POMC) synapses. Postsynaptically, cannabinoids potentiate an A-type K+ current (I(A)) in POMC neurons from female guinea pigs, whereas in males the activation of an inwardly rectifying K+ current is observed. Presynaptically, while cannabinoids inhibit glutamatergic input onto POMC neurons in males and females to similar degrees, males are more refractory to the cannabinoid-induced inhibition of convergent GABAergic input than females. These data reveal pervasive sex differences in the cannabinoid regulation of energy homeostasis that are consistent with changes in the excitability of POMC neurons.