Publication
The role of endocannabinoids in classical eyelid conditioning
| Summary: | Studying simple forms of learning, such as conditioned behaviors, is a useful approach to investigate the role of the plasticity mechanisms that underlie these processes. Classical conditioning of the eyelid is a form of associative learning that is based on the ability of mice to condition their eyelid responses to an initially neutral stimulus (Boele et al. 2010; Kandel et al. 2000). This behavior has been described to relay on an intact cerebellum (Chen et al. 1996; McCormick et al. 1981; McCormick & Thompson 1984), and its neural correlates have been studied extensively ever since. To date, some synapses within the cerebellar circuit have already been linked to specific features of the eyeblink conditioning (Carey & Lisberger 2002). Endocannabinoids - retrograde neuromodulators, that are present throughout the brain (El Manira & Kyriakatos 2010) – have recently been implicated in different forms of plasticity at the cerebellum, particularly type 1 endocannabinoid receptors (CB1R) (Carey et al. 2011). These receptors are also required for a normal performance of the cerebellumdependent eyeblink conditioning behavior (Kishimoto & Kano 2006). In the present research work, which was motivated by the findings described above, we tried to understand which features of the eyeblink conditioning – such as the percentage, amplitude, and timing of the conditioned response - were being modulated by CB1R signaling and in what way. Additionally we wanted to understand specifically in which cell types were these receptors exerting their effects in eyeblink conditioning. The results show that mice lacking CB1R’s, both globally and in granule cells, have an impaired performance in cerebellum dependent eyeblink conditioning, with greater effects observed in global CB1 KO mice. These impairments were observed both in terms of the percentage and amplitude of CR’s, but no differences were detected in terms of the timing of these responses, when in comparision to the control groups. |
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| Main Authors: | Araújo, Sofia Osório, 1989- |
| Subject: | Condicionamento clássico Cerebelo Endocanabinóides CB1R Plasticidade Teses de mestrado - 2014 |
| Year: | 2014 |
| Country: | Portugal |
| Document type: | master thesis |
| Access type: | open access |
| Associated institution: | Universidade de Lisboa |
| Language: | English |
| Origin: | Repositório da Universidade de Lisboa |
| Summary: | Studying simple forms of learning, such as conditioned behaviors, is a useful approach to investigate the role of the plasticity mechanisms that underlie these processes. Classical conditioning of the eyelid is a form of associative learning that is based on the ability of mice to condition their eyelid responses to an initially neutral stimulus (Boele et al. 2010; Kandel et al. 2000). This behavior has been described to relay on an intact cerebellum (Chen et al. 1996; McCormick et al. 1981; McCormick & Thompson 1984), and its neural correlates have been studied extensively ever since. To date, some synapses within the cerebellar circuit have already been linked to specific features of the eyeblink conditioning (Carey & Lisberger 2002). Endocannabinoids - retrograde neuromodulators, that are present throughout the brain (El Manira & Kyriakatos 2010) – have recently been implicated in different forms of plasticity at the cerebellum, particularly type 1 endocannabinoid receptors (CB1R) (Carey et al. 2011). These receptors are also required for a normal performance of the cerebellumdependent eyeblink conditioning behavior (Kishimoto & Kano 2006). In the present research work, which was motivated by the findings described above, we tried to understand which features of the eyeblink conditioning – such as the percentage, amplitude, and timing of the conditioned response - were being modulated by CB1R signaling and in what way. Additionally we wanted to understand specifically in which cell types were these receptors exerting their effects in eyeblink conditioning. The results show that mice lacking CB1R’s, both globally and in granule cells, have an impaired performance in cerebellum dependent eyeblink conditioning, with greater effects observed in global CB1 KO mice. These impairments were observed both in terms of the percentage and amplitude of CR’s, but no differences were detected in terms of the timing of these responses, when in comparision to the control groups. |
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