Differential modulation of the contextual conditioned emotional response by CB1 and TRPV1 receptors in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex: Possible involvement of NMDA/nitric oxide-related mechanisms.

Background: Blockade of cannabinoid CB1 or vanilloid TRPV1 receptors in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex of rats respectively increases or decreases the conditioned emotional response during re-exposure to a context previously paired with footshocks. Although these mechanisms are unknown, they may involve local modulation of glutamatergic and nitrergic signaling.

Aim: We investigated whether these mechanisms are involved in the reported effects of CB1 and TRPV1 modulation in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex.

Dorsal hippocampus cannabinoid type 1 receptors modulate the expression of contextual fear conditioning in rats: Involvement of local glutamatergic/nitrergic and GABAergic neurotransmissions.

The cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1) is highly expressed in the dorsal portion of hippocampus - a brain region that has been involved in the control of conditioned emotional response (CER) in the contextual fear conditioning (CFC) model. These responses are characterized by increased freezing behavior and autonomic parameters. Moreover, CB1 receptors activation negatively modulate the release of several neurotransmitters, including glutamate and GABA, which also have been related to modulation of CER.

The prelimbic cortex muscarinic M₃ receptor-nitric oxide-guanylyl cyclase pathway modulates cardiovascular responses in rats.

The prelimbic cortex (PL), a limbic structure, sends projections to areas involved in the control of cardiovascular responses. Stimulation of the PL with acetylcholine (ACh) evokes depressor and tachycardiac responses mediated by local PL muscarinic receptors. Early studies demonstrated that stimulation of muscarinic receptors induced nitric oxide (NO) synthesis and cyclic guanosine cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) formation.