title: Endocannabinoid functions controlling neuronal specification during brain development.
abstract: Endocannabinoids (eCBs) regulate a broad range of physiological functions in the postnatal brain and are implicated in the neuropathogenesis of psychiatric and metabolic diseases. Accumulating evidence indicates that eCB signaling also serves key functions during neurodevelopment; and is inherently involved in the control of neurogenesis, neural progenitor proliferation, lineage segregation, and the migration and phenotypic specification of immature neurons. Recent advances in developmental biology define fundamental eCB-driven cellular mechanisms that also contribute to our understanding of the molecular substrates of prenatal drug, in particular cannabis, actions. Here, we summarize known organizing principles of eCB-signaling systems in the developing telencephalon, and outline the sequence of decision points and underlying signaling pathways upon CB1 cannabinoid receptor activation that contribute to neuronal diversification in the developing brain. Finally, we discuss how these novel principles affect the formation of complex neuronal networks.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, Scotland, United Kingdom. t.harkany@abdn.ac.uk
authors.forename: Tibor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Harkany
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Keimpema
authors.forename: Klaudia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Barabás
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mulder
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019521:Body Patterning; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D063385:Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators / Q000378:metabolism*; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D006801:Humans; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D043884:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1 / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D063385:Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D043884:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1