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. 2012 Jun 12:3:110.
doi: 10.3389/fphar.2012.00110. eCollection 2012.

Endocannabinoid modulation of dopaminergic motor circuits

Teresa Morera-Herreras  1 , Cristina Miguelez, Asier Aristieta, José Ángel Ruiz-Ortega, Luisa Ugedo
Affiliations

Endocannabinoid modulation of dopaminergic motor circuits

Teresa Morera-Herreras et al. Front Pharmacol. .

Abstract

There is substantial evidence supporting a role for the endocannabinoid system as a modulator of the dopaminergic activity in the basal ganglia, a forebrain system that integrates cortical information to coordinate motor activity regulating signals. In fact, the administration of plant-derived, synthetic or endogenous cannabinoids produces several effects on motor function. These effects are mediated primarily through the CB(1) receptors that are densely located in the dopamine-enriched basal ganglia networks, suggesting that the motor effects of endocannabinoids are due, at least in part, to modulation of dopaminergic transmission. On the other hand, there are profound changes in CB(1) receptor cannabinoid signaling in the basal ganglia circuits after dopamine depletion (as happens in Parkinson's disease) and following l-DOPA replacement therapy. Therefore, it has been suggested that endocannabinoid system modulation may constitute an important component in new therapeutic approaches to the treatment of motor disturbances. In this article we will review studies supporting the endocannabinoid modulation of dopaminergic motor circuits.

Keywords: basal ganglia; dopamine; electrophysiology; endocannabinoids; motor circuits.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Distribution of CB1 and TRPV1 receptors and their coexpression with dopaminergic D1 and D2 receptors in a simplified diagram of the basal ganglia circuits. GABAergic inhibitory pathways are represented in blue and glutamatergic excitatory pathways in red. Modulatory dopaminergic connections are indicated in green. CB1, cannabinoid receptor type 1; TRPV1, transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1; D1, dopaminergic receptor type 1; D2, dopaminergic receptor type 2; GPe, external globus pallidus; GPi, internal globus pallidus; STN, subthalamic nucleus; SNpc, substantia nigra pars compacta; SNpr, substantia nigra pars reticulata.
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