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Authors & Affiliations
Basak Gündüz, Constance Vennin, Alex Brown, Bilal Akhtar, Beat Lutz
Abstract
In the context of current global changes, a notable increase in major depressive and anxiety disorders worldwide has surfaced, underscoring the urgent need to comprehend stress resilience. The influence of stress on health is evident; however, not all individuals are predisposed to developing associated problems, as certain individuals demonstrate resilience. The animal models offer a valuable approach to investigating the mechanisms that differentiate resilience from vulnerability. Our research focuses on the endocannabinoid(eCB) system, specifically CB2 receptors, known for their roles in neurogenesis and stress response. BCP, a natural ligand found in spices targeting the CB2 cannabinoid receptor, peroxisome proliferation-activated receptor α(PPARα) and ɣ(PPARɣ), shows potential in easing anxiety and exerting anti-inflammatory effects. Administered via intraperitoneal injection, BCP leads to reduced anxiety-like behavior and increased CB2 expression in microglia. The hypothesis is that BCP enhances stress resilience by reprogramming the microglia transcriptome, with a particular focus on the hippocampus. To investigate this further, we administered BCP(50 mg/kg in 5% Cremophor) or vehicle(5% Cremophor) for two weeks and conducted a social interaction (SI) test to assess behavioral changes. Preliminary results indicate improved social interaction indices in BCP-injected groups. Following the SI test, whole-brain samples were collected for molecular analyses to elucidate microglial-related changes at the molecular level. These findings suggest that BCP holds promise as a potential treatment option for depression-related disorders through its impact on microglial cells. Ongoing analyses aim to provide a comprehensive understanding of the behavioral and molecular effects, addressing the need for further exploration of BCP's long-term implications.