title: Endocannabinoids in striatal plasticity.
abstract: Endocannabinoids (eCBs) are lipid metabolites found throughout the nervous system that modulate synaptic plasticity mainly via actions on the cannabinoid 1 (CB1) receptor. Within the striatum, eCBs and CB1Rs initiate both short- and long-lasting synaptic depression at intrinsic GABAergic synapses and glutamatergic synapses made by cortical afferents. Recent studies have explored the mechanisms underlying eCB-mediated synaptic depression, and the role of this plasticity in striatal function. Dopamine (DA) and its receptors promote eCB-mediated depression of glutamatergic synapses, and dopamine depletion in animal models alters corticostriatal synapses in ways that may contribute to Parkinson's disease (PD). A growing body of literature indicates that alterations in eCB signaling occur in PD patients, suggesting possible therapeutic approaches targeting this neuromodulatory system.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Integrative Neuroscience, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852, USA.
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Lovinger
authors.forename: Brian N
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Mathur
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D063385:Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators / Q000502:physiology*; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D006801:Humans; D036881:Long-Term Synaptic Depression / Q000502:physiology*; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D013569:Synapses / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D063385:Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators; D063388:Endocannabinoids