Retrograde endocannabinoid signaling at inhibitory synapses in vivo

Science. 2024 Mar;383(6686):967-970. doi: 10.1126/science.adk3863. Epub 2024 Feb 29.

Abstract

Endocannabinoid (eCB)-mediated suppression of inhibitory synapses has been hypothesized, but this has not yet been demonstrated to occur in vivo because of the difficulty in tracking eCB dynamics and synaptic plasticity during behavior. In mice navigating a linear track, we observed location-specific eCB signaling in hippocampal CA1 place cells, and this was detected both in the postsynaptic membrane and the presynaptic inhibitory axons. All-optical in vivo investigation of synaptic responses revealed that postsynaptic depolarization was followed by a suppression of inhibitory synaptic potentials. Furthermore, interneuron-specific cannabinoid receptor deletion altered place cell tuning. Therefore, rapid, postsynaptic, activity-dependent eCB signaling modulates inhibitory synapses on a timescale of seconds during behavior.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • CA1 Region, Hippocampal* / physiology
  • Calcium Signaling
  • Endocannabinoids* / physiology
  • Female
  • Inhibitory Postsynaptic Potentials*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Neuronal Plasticity / physiology
  • Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1 / genetics
  • Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1 / physiology
  • Synapses* / physiology
  • Synaptic Transmission*

Substances

  • Endocannabinoids
  • Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1