State-dependent, bidirectional modulation of neural network activity by endocannabinoids.

R. Piet, A. Garenne, F. Farrugia, G. Le Masson, G. Marsicano, P. Chavis, O. J. Manzoni
Journal of Neuroscience. 2011-11-16; 31(46): 16591-16596
DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.4297-11.2011

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1. J Neurosci. 2011 Nov 16;31(46):16591-6. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4297-11.2011.

State-dependent, bidirectional modulation of neural network activity by
endocannabinoids.

Piet R(1), Garenne A, Farrugia F, Le Masson G, Marsicano G, Chavis P, Manzoni OJ.

Author information:
(1)Neurocentre Magendie INSERM U862, 33077 Bordeaux Cedex, France.

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.

DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4297-11.2011
PMID: 22090486 [Indexed for MEDLINE]

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