The endocannabinoid receptor, CB1, is required for normal axonal growth and fasciculation

S Watson, D Chambers, C Hobbs, P Doherty, A Graham

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

121 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Endocannabinoids are retrograde neurotransmitters, which act upon the presynaptically located, G-protein coupled receptor CBI, to modulate synaptic transmission in the adult brain. Recently, however, a number of lines of evidence have suggested that endocannabinoid signalling may play an important role in early neuronal development. In this study, we show that the CBI receptor has a wide expression pattern in the developing nervous system and that its expression follows neuronal differentiation in the embryo from the earliest stages. We also show that the enzymes involved in 2-AG synthesis are expressed in an overlapping manner at these stages. We further show that interfering with CBI function using a pharmacological inhibitor causes problems in axon pathfinding and fasciculation. Similarly, CB1 gene knock down in the zebrafish by morpholino injection results in defects in axonal growth and fasciculation in these embryos. Thus CBI function is required in the early embryo for axonal growth and fasciculation. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)89 - 97
Number of pages9
JournalMolecular and Cellular Neurosciences
Volume38
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 2008

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