Endocannabinoid signaling in the amygdala and the regulation of fear and anxiety: Not always a clear path

Endocannabinoid (eCB) signaling in the amygdala appears to be critical for the regulation of stress, fear and anxiety. Exposure to stress causes a rapid induction of the enzyme fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), which results in an accelerated metabolism of the eCB ligand anandamide (AEA), through a CRH-dependent mechanism, resulting in a decline in AEA signaling. Consistent with this, inhibition of FAAH appears to be able to reduce the increase in anxiety that is seen following elevations in amygdalar CRH signaling or following exposure to frank stressors.

Source: Alcohol - May 1, 2017 Category: Addiction Authors: Matthew N. Hill Source Type: research