The endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoyl-glycerol controls odor sensitivity in larvae of Xenopus laevis.
Cannabinoids modulate the activity of many neuronal cells, among them sensory neurons in the olfactory epithelium. Here we show that the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoyl-glycerol (2-AG) is synthesized in both olfactory receptor neurons and glia-like sustentacular cells in larval Xenopus laevis. Its production in the latter depends on the hunger state of the animal. The essential effect of 2-AG in olfactory receptor neurons is the control of odorant detection thresholds via cannabinoid CB(1) receptor activation. Hunger renders olfactory neurons more sensitive. Endocannabinoid modulation in the nose may therefore substantially influence food-seeking behavior.
Breunig
Esther
E
Department of Neurophysiology and Cellular Biophysics, University of Göttingen, 37073 Göttingen, Germany.
Manzini
Ivan
I
Piscitelli
Fabiana
F
Gutermann
Benjamin
B
Di Marzo
Vincenzo
V
Schild
Detlev
D
Czesnik
Dirk
D
D000818:Animals; D001095:Arachidonic Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D063385:Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators / Q000378:metabolism; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D005260:Female; D005989:Glycerides / Q000378:metabolism*; D006815:Hunger / Q000502:physiology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007814:Larva; D008297:Male; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D009812:Odorants; D009831:Olfactory Mucosa / Q000502:physiology; D011984:Sensory Receptor Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D012903:Smell / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014982:Xenopus laevis
D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D063385:Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D005989:Glycerides; C094503:glyceryl 2-arachidonate; D002118:Calcium