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Wheeler EC, Choi P, De Howitt J, Gill S, Watson S, Yu S, Wahl P, Diaz C, Mohr C, Zinski A, Jiang Z, Rossi D, Davis JF. Cannabis Sativa targets mediobasal hypothalamic neurons to stimulate appetite. Sci Rep 2023; 13:22970. [PMID: 38151493 PMCID: PMC10752887 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-50112-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The neurobiological mechanisms that regulate the appetite-stimulatory properties of cannabis sativa are unresolved. This work examined the hypothesis that cannabinoid-1 receptor (CB1R) expressing neurons in the mediobasal hypothalamus (MBH) regulate increased appetite following cannabis vapor inhalation. Here we utilized a paradigm where vaporized cannabis plant matter was administered passively to rodents. Initial studies in rats characterized meal patterns and operant responding for palatable food following exposure to air or vapor cannabis. Studies conducted in mice used a combination of in vivo optical imaging, electrophysiology and chemogenetic manipulations to determine the importance of MBH neurons for cannabis-induced feeding behavior. Our data indicate that cannabis vapor increased meal frequency and food seeking behavior without altering locomotor activity. Importantly, we observed augmented MBH activity within distinct neuronal populations when mice anticipated or consumed food. Mechanistic experiments demonstrated that pharmacological activation of CB1R attenuated inhibitory synaptic tone onto hunger promoting Agouti Related Peptide (AgRP) neurons within the MBH. Lastly, chemogenetic inhibition of AgRP neurons attenuated the appetite promoting effects of cannabis vapor. Based on these results, we conclude that MBH neurons contribute to the appetite stimulatory properties of inhaled cannabis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma C Wheeler
- Department of Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience, Washington State University, Room 115, Veterinary Biomedical Research Building, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA
- Department of Animal Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Pique Choi
- Department of Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience, Washington State University, Room 115, Veterinary Biomedical Research Building, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA
| | - Joanne De Howitt
- Department of Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience, Washington State University, Room 115, Veterinary Biomedical Research Building, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA
| | - Sumeen Gill
- Department of Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience, Washington State University, Room 115, Veterinary Biomedical Research Building, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA
| | - Shane Watson
- Department of Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience, Washington State University, Room 115, Veterinary Biomedical Research Building, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA
| | - Sue Yu
- Department of Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience, Washington State University, Room 115, Veterinary Biomedical Research Building, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA
| | - Peyton Wahl
- Department of Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience, Washington State University, Room 115, Veterinary Biomedical Research Building, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA
| | - Cecilia Diaz
- Department of Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience, Washington State University, Room 115, Veterinary Biomedical Research Building, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA
| | - Claudia Mohr
- Department of Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience, Washington State University, Room 115, Veterinary Biomedical Research Building, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA
| | - Amy Zinski
- Department of Animal Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Zhihua Jiang
- Department of Animal Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - David Rossi
- Department of Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience, Washington State University, Room 115, Veterinary Biomedical Research Building, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA
| | - Jon F Davis
- Department of Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience, Washington State University, Room 115, Veterinary Biomedical Research Building, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA.
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