Andalib Danandeh1, Valentina Vozella1, James Lim1,2, Fariba Oveisi1, Gina L Ramirez1, David Mears3,4, Gary Wynn4, Daniele Piomelli5,6,7. 1. Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, 3101 Gillespie NRF, Irvine, CA, 92697-4625, USA. 2. Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA. 3. Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Genetics, Uniformed Service University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA. 4. Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress, Department of Psychiatry, Uniformed Service University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA. 5. Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, 3101 Gillespie NRF, Irvine, CA, 92697-4625, USA. piomelli@uci.edu. 6. Department of Pharmacology, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA. piomelli@uci.edu. 7. Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA. piomelli@uci.edu.
Abstract
RATIONALE: The endocannabinoid neurotransmitter, anandamide, has been implicated in the central modulation of stress responses. Previous animal experiments have shown that inhibitors of the anandamide-degrading enzyme, fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), enhance the ability to cope with acute and chronic stress. OBJECTIVES: Here, we investigated the effects of the globally active FAAH inhibitor URB597 in a rat model of predator stress-induced long-term anxiety. RESULTS: Rats exposed to 2,5-dihydro-2,4,5-trimethylthiazoline (TMT), a chemical constituent of fox feces, developed a persistent anxiety-like state, which was assessed 7 days after exposure using the elevated plus maze (EPM) test. Systemic administration of URB597 [0.03-0.1-0.3 mg/kg, intraperitoneal (ip)] 2 h before testing suppressed TMT-induced behaviors with a median effective dose (IC50) of 0.075 mg/kg. This effect was strongly correlated with inhibition of brain FAAH activity (r2 = 1.0) and was accompanied by increased brain levels of three FAAH substrates: the endocannabinoid anandamide and the endogenous peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (PPAR-α) agonists, oleoylethanolamide (OEA), and palmitoylethanolamide (PEA). The anxiolytic-like effects of URB597 were blocked by co-administration of the CB1 receptor antagonist rimonabant (1 mg/kg, ip), but not of the PPAR-α antagonist GW6471 (1 mg/kg, ip). Finally, when administered 18 h after TMT exposure (i.e., 6 days before the EPM test), URB597 (0.3 mg/kg, ip) prevented the consolidation of anxiety-like behavior in a CB1-dependent manner. CONCLUSIONS: The results support the hypothesis that anandamide-mediated signaling at CB1 receptors serves an important regulatory function in the stress response, and confirm that FAAH inhibition may offer a potential therapeutic strategy for post-traumatic stress disorder.
RATIONALE: The endocannabinoid neurotransmitter, anandamide, has been implicated in the central modulation of stress responses. Previous animal experiments have shown that inhibitors of the anandamide-degrading enzyme, fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), enhance the ability to cope with acute and chronic stress. OBJECTIVES: Here, we investigated the effects of the globally active FAAH inhibitor URB597 in a rat model of predator stress-induced long-term anxiety. RESULTS:Rats exposed to 2,5-dihydro-2,4,5-trimethylthiazoline (TMT), a chemical constituent of fox feces, developed a persistent anxiety-like state, which was assessed 7 days after exposure using the elevated plus maze (EPM) test. Systemic administration of URB597 [0.03-0.1-0.3 mg/kg, intraperitoneal (ip)] 2 h before testing suppressed TMT-induced behaviors with a median effective dose (IC50) of 0.075 mg/kg. This effect was strongly correlated with inhibition of brain FAAH activity (r2 = 1.0) and was accompanied by increased brain levels of three FAAH substrates: the endocannabinoidanandamide and the endogenous peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (PPAR-α) agonists, oleoylethanolamide (OEA), and palmitoylethanolamide (PEA). The anxiolytic-like effects of URB597 were blocked by co-administration of the CB1 receptor antagonist rimonabant (1 mg/kg, ip), but not of the PPAR-α antagonist GW6471 (1 mg/kg, ip). Finally, when administered 18 h after TMT exposure (i.e., 6 days before the EPM test), URB597 (0.3 mg/kg, ip) prevented the consolidation of anxiety-like behavior in a CB1-dependent manner. CONCLUSIONS: The results support the hypothesis that anandamide-mediated signaling at CB1 receptors serves an important regulatory function in the stress response, and confirm that FAAH inhibition may offer a potential therapeutic strategy for post-traumatic stress disorder.
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