title: Endocannabinoid-mediated synaptic plasticity in the CNS.
abstract: Changes in synaptic efficacy are thought to be crucial to experience-dependent modifications of neural function. The diversity of mechanisms underlying these changes is far greater than previously expected. In the last five years, a new class of use-dependent synaptic plasticity that requires retrograde signaling by endocannabinoids (eCB) and presynaptic CB1 receptor activation has been identified in several brain structures. eCB-mediated plasticity encompasses many forms of transient and long-lasting synaptic depression and is found at both excitatory and inhibitory synapses. In addition, eCBs can modify the inducibility of non-eCB-mediated forms of plasticity. Thus, the eCB system is emerging as a major player in synaptic plasticity. Given the wide distribution of CB1 receptors in the CNS, the list of brain structures and synapses expressing eCB-mediated plasticity is likely to expand.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York 10461, USA.
authors.forename: Vivien
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Chevaleyre
authors.forename: Kanji A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Pablo E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Castillo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D063385:Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators / Q000378:metabolism*; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009433:Neural Inhibition / Q000502:physiology; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D043882:Receptors, Cannabinoid / Q000502:physiology; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D063385:Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D043882:Receptors, Cannabinoid