Endocannabinoid signaling regulates the reinforcing and psychostimulant effects of ketamine in mice

Nat Commun. 2020 Nov 24;11(1):5962. doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-19780-z.

Abstract

The abuse potential of ketamine limits its clinical application, but the precise mechanism remains largely unclear. Here we discovered that ketamine significantly remodels the endocannabinoid-related lipidome and activates 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) signaling in the dorsal striatum (caudate nucleus and putamen, CPu) of mice. Elevated 2-AG in the CPu is essential for the psychostimulant and reinforcing effects of ketamine, whereas blockade of the cannabinoid CB1 receptor, a predominant 2-AG receptor, attenuates ketamine-induced remodeling of neuronal dendrite structure and neurobehaviors. Ketamine represses the transcription of the monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) gene by promoting the expression of PRDM5, a negative transcription factor of the MAGL gene, leading to increased 2-AG production. Genetic overexpression of MAGL or silencing of PRDM5 expression in the CPu robustly reduces 2-AG production and ketamine effects. Collectively, endocannabinoid signaling plays a critical role in mediating the psychostimulant and reinforcing properties of ketamine.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arachidonic Acids / metabolism*
  • Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists / metabolism
  • Caudate Nucleus / metabolism
  • DNA-Binding Proteins* / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins* / metabolism
  • Endocannabinoids / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Glycerides / metabolism*
  • Ketamine / pharmacology*
  • Mice
  • Monoacylglycerol Lipases* / genetics
  • Monoacylglycerol Lipases* / metabolism
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1 / drug effects
  • Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1 / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects*
  • Substance-Related Disorders / genetics
  • Substance-Related Disorders / metabolism
  • Transcription Factors* / genetics
  • Transcription Factors* / metabolism

Substances

  • Arachidonic Acids
  • Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Endocannabinoids
  • Glycerides
  • PRDM5 protein, mouse
  • Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1
  • Transcription Factors
  • Ketamine
  • glyceryl 2-arachidonate
  • Monoacylglycerol Lipases