Envolvimento da neurotransmissão endocanabinóide no núcleo leito da estria terminal nas respostas autônomas desencadeadas pelo estresse de restrição agudo em ratos

Abstract

The endocannabinoid neurotransmission has been reported as an important neurochemical mechanism involved in behavioral and physiological responses to stress. Previous studies provided evidence of endocannabinoid release in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) during aversive stimuli. Nevertheless, a possible involvement of this neurochemical mechanism in stress responses has never been evaluated. Therefore, in the present study we investigated the involvement of endocannabinoid neurotransmission within the BNST, acting via local CB1 receptor, in cardiovascular responses evoked by acute restraint stress in rats. We found that microinjection of the selective CB1 receptor antagonist AM251 (1, 30, and 100 pmol/100 nL) into the BNST enhanced the heart rate increase caused by restraint stress, without affecting the arterial pressure increase and the sympathetic-mediated cutaneous vasoconstriction response. Conversely, increase in endogenous levels of anandamide in the BNST evoked by local treatment with the fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) enzyme inhibitor URB597 (30 pmol/100 nL) decreased restraint-evoked tachycardia. Inhibition of the hydrolysis of 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) in the BNST by local microinjection of the monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) enzyme inhibitor JZL184 (30 pmol/100 nL) also decreased the HR response to restraint. Effects of BNST treatment with either URB597 or JZL184 were inhibited by local pretreatment with the CB 1 receptor antagonist AM251. These findings indicate an involvement of BNST endocannabinoid neurotransmission, acting via CB1 receptor, in cardiovascular adjustments during emotional stress. Furthermore, present findings provide evidence that this control may be mediated by local release of either anandamide or 2-AG.