RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 State-Dependent, Bidirectional Modulation of Neural Network Activity by Endocannabinoids
JF The Journal of Neuroscience
JO J. Neurosci.
FD Society for Neuroscience
SP 16591
OP 16596
DO 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4297-11.2011
VO 31
IS 46
A1 Richard Piet
A1 André Garenne
A1 Fanny Farrugia
A1 Gwendal Le Masson
A1 Giovanni Marsicano
A1 Pascale Chavis
A1 Olivier J. Manzoni
YR 2011
UL http://www.jneurosci.org/content/31/46/16591.abstract
AB The endocannabinoid (eCB) system and the cannabinoid CB1 receptor (CB1R) play key roles in the modulation of brain functions. Although actions of eCBs and CB1Rs are well described at the synaptic level, little is known of their modulation of neural activity at the network level. Using microelectrode arrays, we have examined the role of CB1R activation in the modulation of the electrical activity of rat and mice cortical neural networks in vitro. We find that exogenous activation of CB1Rs expressed on glutamatergic neurons decreases the spontaneous activity of cortical neural networks. Moreover, we observe that the net effect of the CB1R antagonist AM251 inversely correlates with the initial level of activity in the network: blocking CB1Rs increases network activity when basal network activity is low, whereas it depresses spontaneous activity when its initial level is high. Our results reveal a complex role of CB1Rs in shaping spontaneous network activity, and suggest that the outcome of endogenous neuromodulation on network function might be state dependent.