Anandamide inhibits metabolism and physiological actions of 2-arachidonoylglycerol in the striatum

Nat Neurosci. 2008 Feb;11(2):152-9. doi: 10.1038/nn2042. Epub 2008 Jan 20.

Abstract

Of the endocannabinoids (eCBs), anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) have received the most study. A functional interaction between these molecules has never been described. Using mouse brain slices, we found that stimulation of metabotropic glutamate 5 receptors by 3,5-dihydroxyphenylglycine (DHPG) depressed inhibitory transmission in the striatum through selective involvement of 2-AG metabolism and stimulation of presynaptic CB1 receptors. Elevation of AEA concentrations by pharmacological or genetic inhibition of AEA degradation reduced the levels, metabolism and physiological effects of 2-AG. Exogenous AEA and the stable AEA analog methanandamide inhibited basal and DHPG-stimulated 2-AG production, confirming that AEA is responsible for the downregulation of the other eCB. AEA is an endovanilloid substance, and the stimulation of transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) channels mimicked the effects of endogenous AEA on 2-AG metabolism through a previously unknown glutathione-dependent pathway. Consistently, the interaction between AEA and 2-AG was lost after pharmacological and genetic inactivation of TRPV1 channels.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amidohydrolases / deficiency
  • Animals
  • Arachidonic Acids / pharmacology*
  • Arachidonic Acids / physiology*
  • Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators / pharmacology*
  • Corpus Striatum / cytology
  • Corpus Striatum / drug effects*
  • Down-Regulation / drug effects
  • Drug Interactions
  • Endocannabinoids
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / pharmacology
  • Glutathione / metabolism
  • Glycerides / physiology*
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol / analogs & derivatives
  • Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol / pharmacology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Neurons / drug effects
  • Patch-Clamp Techniques / methods
  • Polyunsaturated Alkamides / pharmacology*
  • Protein Binding / drug effects
  • Protein Binding / genetics
  • Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1 / metabolism
  • Synaptic Transmission / drug effects
  • Synaptic Transmission / genetics
  • TRPV Cation Channels / deficiency
  • Time Factors
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / pharmacology

Substances

  • Arachidonic Acids
  • Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators
  • Endocannabinoids
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists
  • Glycerides
  • Polyunsaturated Alkamides
  • Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1
  • TRPV Cation Channels
  • TRPV1 protein, mouse
  • Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
  • glyceryl 2-arachidonate
  • Amidohydrolases
  • fatty-acid amide hydrolase
  • Glutathione
  • 3,4-dihydroxyphenylglycol
  • anandamide