title: Role of endocannabinoid signaling in anxiety and depression.
abstract: Cannabinoid receptors and their endogenous ligands are located throughout the limbic, or "emotional," brain, where they modulate synaptic neurotransmission. Converging preclinical and clinical data suggest a role for endogenous cannabinoid signaling in the modulation of anxiety and depression. Augmentation of endocannabinoid signaling (ECS) has anxiolytic effects, whereas blockade or genetic deletion of CB₁ receptors has anxiogenic properties. Augmentation of ECS also appears to have anti-depressant actions, and in some assays blockade and genetic deletion of CB₁ receptors produces depressive phenotypes. These data provide evidence that ECS serves in an anxiolytic, and possibly anti-depressant, role. These data suggest novel approaches to treatment of affective disorders which could include enhancement of endogenous cannabinoid signaling, and warrant cautious use of CB₁ receptor antagonists in patients with pre-existing affective disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA.
authors.forename: Sachin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Cecilia J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Hillard
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001007:Anxiety / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D063385:Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000172:deficiency / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D006801:Humans; D043884:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D063385:Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D043884:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1