Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
7
pubmed:dateCreated
2009-4-8
pubmed:abstractText
Endocannabinoids are a family of endogenous signaling molecules that modulate neuronal excitability in the central nervous system (CNS) by interacting with cannabinoid (CB) receptors. In spite of the evidence that astroglial cells also possess CB receptors, there is no information on the role of endocannabinoids in regulating CNS function through the modulation of ion channel-mediated homeostatic mechanisms in astroglial cells. We provide electrophysiological evidence that the two brain endocannabinoids anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonylglycerol (2-AG) markedly depress outward conductance mediated by delayed outward rectifier potassium current (IK(DR)) in primary cultured rat cortical astrocytes. Pharmacological experiments suggest that the effect of AEA does not result from the activation of known CB receptors. Moreover, neither the production of AEA metabolites nor variations in free cytosolic calcium are involved in the negative modulation of IK(DR). We show that the action of AEA is mediated by its interaction with the extracellular leaflet of the plasma membrane. Similar experiments performed in situ in cortical slices indicate that AEA downregulates IK(DR) in complex and passive astroglial cells. Moreover, IK(DR) is also inhibited by AEA in NG2 glia. Collectively, these results support the notion that endocannabinoids may exert their modulation of CNS function via the regulation of homeostatic function of the astroglial syncytium mediated by ion channel activity.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/chemical/2-arachidonylglycerol, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/chemical/Antigens, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/chemical/Arachidonic Acids, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/chemical/Calcium, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/chemical/Delayed Rectifier Potassium Channels, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/chemical/Endocannabinoids, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/chemical/Glycerides, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/chemical/Polyunsaturated Alkamides, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/chemical/Potassium, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/chemical/Proteoglycans, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/chemical/Receptors, Cannabinoid, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/chemical/anandamide, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/chemical/chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan 4
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
May
pubmed:issn
1098-1136
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Electronic
pubmed:volume
57
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
791-806
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed-meshheading:19031444-Animals, pubmed-meshheading:19031444-Antigens, pubmed-meshheading:19031444-Arachidonic Acids, pubmed-meshheading:19031444-Astrocytes, pubmed-meshheading:19031444-Calcium, pubmed-meshheading:19031444-Cell Membrane, pubmed-meshheading:19031444-Cells, Cultured, pubmed-meshheading:19031444-Cerebral Cortex, pubmed-meshheading:19031444-Cytosol, pubmed-meshheading:19031444-Delayed Rectifier Potassium Channels, pubmed-meshheading:19031444-Endocannabinoids, pubmed-meshheading:19031444-Glycerides, pubmed-meshheading:19031444-Membrane Potentials, pubmed-meshheading:19031444-Microglia, pubmed-meshheading:19031444-Neurons, pubmed-meshheading:19031444-Polyunsaturated Alkamides, pubmed-meshheading:19031444-Potassium, pubmed-meshheading:19031444-Proteoglycans, pubmed-meshheading:19031444-Rats, pubmed-meshheading:19031444-Rats, Sprague-Dawley, pubmed-meshheading:19031444-Rats, Wistar, pubmed-meshheading:19031444-Receptors, Cannabinoid
pubmed:year
2009
pubmed:articleTitle
The endocannabinoid anandamide inhibits potassium conductance in rat cortical astrocytes.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Human and General Physiology, University of Bologna, 40127 Bologna, Italy.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't