Study summary · research use only
Adult Neurogenesis Is Regulated by the Endocannabinoid and Kisspeptin Systems
Plain-language summary
Paraphrased from the published abstract below — not a verdict on whether anything works.
In this study using male adolescent rats, the authors examined the interaction of the Kisspeptin (KPS) and Endocannabinoid (ECS) systems in hippocampal neurogenesis, administering kisspeptin-10 (KP10) and the endocannabinoid anandamide (AEA) alone or combined with the CB1 receptor antagonist SR141716A. Kiss1, Kiss1R, CB1R, and TRPV1 expression were characterized in rat hippocampus for the first time. Both KP10 and AEA were reported to inhibit neurogenesis by reducing ERK signaling, and both increased TRPV1 expression. KP10, but not AEA, reduced CB1R expression in the dentate gyrus. KPS, unlike ECS, was reported to promote expression of estrogen receptor α (ER-α) and GAPDH, and to upregulate SIRT1, BDNF, and c-Jun.
Abstract
Neurogenesis is considered the most robust form of plasticity in the adult brain. To better decipher this process, we evaluated the potential crosstalk of Kisspeptin and Endocannabinoid Systems (KPS and ECS, respectively) on hippocampal neurogenesis. Male adolescent rats were exposed to kisspeptin-10 (KP10) and the endocannabinoid anandamide (AEA) administered alone or in combination with the type 1 cannabinoid receptor (CB1R) antagonist SR141716A. The expression of Kiss1 and Kisspeptin receptor (Kiss1R) has been characterized for the first time in rat hippocampus together with the expression of the CB1R and the Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 1 ion channel receptor (TRPV1). Results show that both systems inhibit neurogenesis by reducing the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling. Despite little differences in the expression of Kiss1R and CB1R, TRPV1 is enhanced by both KP10 and AEA treatments, suggesting TRPV1 as a common thread. KP10 administration reduces CB1R expression in the dentate gyrus, while AEA does not. KPS, unlike ECS, promotes the expression of estrogen receptor α (ER-α) and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), also upregulating sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), brain-derived-neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and c-Jun. These findings suggest that the interaction between ECS and KPS could be involved in the fine-tuning of neurogenesis, highlighting a novel role for KPS.
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