Dendritically released transmitters cooperate via autocrine and retrograde actions to inhibit afferent excitation in rat brain.
Oxytocin is released from supraoptic magnocellular neurones and is thought to act at presynaptic receptors to inhibit transmitter release. We now show that this effect is mediated by endocannabinoids, but that oxytocin nonetheless plays an important role in endocannabinoid signalling. WIN55,212-2, a cannabinoid receptor agonist, mimicked the action of oxytocin and occluded oxytocin-induced presynaptic inhibition. The cannabinoid action is at the presynaptic terminal as shown by alteration in paired pulse ratio, a reduction in miniature EPSC frequency and immunohistochemical localization of CB1 receptors on presynaptic terminals. AM251, a CB1 receptor antagonist, blocked both the WIN55,212-2 and the oxytocin-induced presynaptic inhibition of EPSCs. Depolarization of postsynaptic magnocellular neurones (which contain fatty acid amide hydrolase, a cannabinoid catabolic enzyme) caused a transient inhibition of EPSCs that could be blocked by both the AM251 and Manning compound, an oxytocin/vasopressin receptor antagonist. This indicates that somatodendritic peptide release and action on previously identified autoreceptors facilitates the release of endocannabinoids that act as mediators of presynaptic inhibition.
Hirasawa
Michiru
M
Calgary Brain Institute, Neuroscience Research Group, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB, Canada T2N 4N1.
Schwab
Yannick
Y
Natah
Sirajedin
S
Hillard
Cecilia J
CJ
Mackie
Ken
K
Sharkey
Keith A
KA
Pittman
Quentin J
QJ
D000818:Animals; D019898:Autocrine Communication / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D048588:Benzoxazines; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D063385:Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators / Q000378:metabolism; D003712:Dendrites / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D009025:Morpholines / Q000494:pharmacology; D009281:Naphthalenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D048588:Benzoxazines; D063385:Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators; D009025:Morpholines; D009281:Naphthalenes; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; C070417:(3R)-((2,3-dihydro-5-methyl-3-((4-morpholinyl)methyl)pyrrolo-(1,2,3-de)-1,4-benzoxazin-6-yl)(1-naphthalenyl))methanone; D009543:Nifedipine