Inhibition by anandamide of gap junctions and intercellular calcium signalling in striatal astrocytes

TLDR: It is shown that anandamide is a potent inhibitor of gap-junction conductance and dye permeability in striatal astrocytes and may control intercellular communication in astroCytes and therefore neuron–glial interactions.

Abstract: Anandamide, an endogenous arachidonic acid derivative that is released from neurons and activates cannabinoid receptors, may act as a transcellular cannabimimetic messenger in the central nervous system. The biological actions of anandamide and the identity of its target cells are, however, still poorly documented. Here we show that anandamide is a potent inhibitor of gap-junction conductance and dye permeability in striatal astrocytes. This inhibitory effect is specific for anandamide as compared to co-released congeners or structural analogues, is sensitive to pertussis toxin and to protein-alkylating agents, and is neither mimicked by cannabinoid-receptor agonists nor prevented by a cannabinoid-receptor antagonist. Glutamate released from neurons evokes calcium waves in astrocytes that propagate via gap junctions, and may, in turn, activate neurons distant from their initiation sites in astrocytes. We find that anandamide blocks the propagation of astrocyte calcium waves generated by either mechanical stimulation or local glutamate application. Thus, by regulating gap-junction permeability, anandamide may control intercellular communication in astrocytes and therefore neuron-glial interactions.

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UC Irvine Previously Published Works
Title
Inhibition by anandamide of gap junctions and intercellular calcium signalling in striatal
astrocytes.
Permalink
https://escholarship.org/uc/item/260614rc
Journal
Nature, 376(6541)
ISSN
0028-0836
Authors
Venance, L
Piomelli, D
Glowinski, J
et al.
Publication Date
1995-08-01
DOI
10.1038/376590a0
Copyright Information
This work is made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution
License, availalbe at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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