title: Fetal cannabinoid receptors and the "dis-joint-ed" brain.
abstract: Microtubule turnover in the growing axons is required for directional axonal growth and synapse formation in the developing brain. In this issue of The EMBO Journal, Tortoriello et al (2014) show that the microtubule-binding protein SCG10/stathmin-2 is a specific molecular target for a CB1 receptor-mediated effect of Δ(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive ingredient of smoked marijuana, in the fetal brain. Considering the role of CB1 in modulating the specification and long-distance migration of neurons in the perinatal brain, this study reveals an interesting mechanism potentially accounting for connectivity deficits during cortical development following exposure to CB1 agonists or THC during pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Pozzuoli, Italy.
authors.forename: Luigia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cristino
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Di Marzo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects*; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000494:pharmacology*; D043884:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1 / Q000187:drug effects*; D050777:Stathmin
chemical_list: D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs; D043884:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1; D050777:Stathmin; C512849:Stmn2 protein, mouse; D013759:Dronabinol