Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · 2012 · 184 citations · 32 references
Life SciencesNeurosciencePharmacologyCell SignalingNeurochemistryNeuropharmacologyCannabinoid PharmacologyNeurochemical Signaling PathwaysNeurotransmissionNeurotransmitter ReceptorsReceptor Signaling In NeuronsSynaptic TransmissionCannabinoid AgonistsCannabinoid Receptor ModulationChannelsEndocannabinoid SignalingEndocannabinoid SystemNeuronal Firing PatternsPrefrontal Cortex FunctionPrefrontal Cortex Physiology
The endocannabinoid (eCB) system is widely expressed throughout the central nervous system (CNS) and the functionality of type-1 cannabinoid receptors in neurons is well documented. In contrast, there is little knowledge about type-2 cannabinoid receptors (CB(2)Rs) in the CNS. Here, we show that CB(2)Rs are located intracellularly in layer II/III pyramidal cells of the rodent medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and that their activation results in IP(3)R-dependent opening of Ca(2+)-activated Cl(-) channels. To investigate the functional role of CB(2)R activation, we induced neuronal firing and observed a CB(2)R-mediated reduction in firing frequency. The description of this unique CB(2)R-mediated signaling pathway, controlling neuronal excitability, broadens our knowledge of the influence of the eCB system on brain function.
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Isolation and Structure of a Brain Constituent That Binds to the Cannabinoid Receptor
William A. Devane, Aviva Breuer, Roger G. Pertwee et al. · Science · 1992 · 5.6K citations
Molecular characterization of a peripheral receptor for cannabinoids
Sean Munro, Kerrie L. Thomas, Muna Abu-Shaar · Nature · 1993 · 5.1K citations