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Endocannabinoid-Mediated Modulation of Excitatory and Inhibitory Synaptic Transmission

  • Chapter
Excitatory-Inhibitory Balance

Abstract

Marijuana exerts variable behavioral effects through the interaction of its active component Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol with specific cannabinoid receptors. Accumulated evidence suggests that endogenous cannabinoids function as diffusible and short-lived intercellular messengers that modulate synaptic transmission. Recent studies have provided strong experimental evidence that endogenous cannabinoids (endocannabinoids) are released from postsynaptic neurons following depolarization-induced elevation of intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i), activation of group I metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) or activation of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs). The released endocannabinoids mediate signals retrogradely from postsynaptic neurons to presynaptic terminals to suppress subsequent neurotransmitter release, driving the synapse into an altered state. In this chapter, we review recent studies. including ours and propose a possible scheme for the mechanisms of the endocannabinoid-mediated retrograde signaling. We will also discuss about possible physiological significance of this signaling on excitatory-inhibitory balance of the neural circuitry.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cellular Neurophysiology,Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, 920-8640, Japan

    Masanobu Kano, Takako Ohno-Shosaku, Takashi Maejima & Takayuki Yoshida

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  1. Masanobu Kano
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  2. Takako Ohno-Shosaku
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  3. Takashi Maejima
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  4. Takayuki Yoshida
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Wako-shi, Japan

    Takao K. Hensch  & Michela Fagiolini  & 

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Kano, M., Ohno-Shosaku, T., Maejima, T., Yoshida, T. (2003). Endocannabinoid-Mediated Modulation of Excitatory and Inhibitory Synaptic Transmission. In: Hensch, T.K., Fagiolini, M. (eds) Excitatory-Inhibitory Balance. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-0039-1_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-0039-1_7

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