Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Anxious behavior induces elevated hippocampal Cb2 receptor gene expression.

James M Robertson1, Justin K Achua2, Justin P Smith3

  • 1Department of Biology, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD 57069, USA; Neuroscience Group, Division of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD 57069, USA.

Neuroscience
|April 11, 2017
PubMed

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Selective orexin receptor cross-over treatment increases resilience and expression of neuroplastic signaling genes.

Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology·2026
Same author

Cefepime Alleviates Comorbid Pain and Depression Induced by Lipopolysaccharide in Female Mice.

Brain sciences·2026
Same author

Social defeat stress responses in the stress alternative model are dependent on sex and anterior basolateral amygdala orexin 2 receptors.

Biology of sex differences·2026
Same author

Beta-lactam Antibiotic Cefepime Attenuates Lipopolysaccharide-induced Pain and Depression By Modulating Inflammatory Response and Astroglial Glutamate Transporter in Mice.

Journal of neuroimmune pharmacology : the official journal of the Society on NeuroImmune Pharmacology·2026
Same author

Functional Plasticity of Orexin/Hypocretin Neurons Balances Stress States.

Biological psychiatry·2025
Same author

Aggression as a contributing factor to social defeat and stress vulnerability.

Neurobiology of stress·2025
Summary

Social stress and fear conditioning rapidly increase cannabinoid receptor 2 (Cb2) gene expression in the hippocampus, particularly in submissive mice. Exercise also enhances Cb2 expression, suggesting adaptive coping roles.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Behavioral Science
  • Endocannabinoid System Research

Background:

  • Anxiety is modulated by the endocannabinoid system, with the hippocampus playing a key role in emotional regulation and memory.
  • Different hippocampal subregions (dorsal vs. ventral) have distinct roles in cognition and emotional responses to stress.
  • Cannabinoid receptors (Cb1/Cb2) are implicated in regulating affective behaviors and stress responses.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of social aggression and fear conditioning on cannabinoid receptor gene expression in the hippocampus.
  • To examine the relationship between behavioral responses (submission, escape) and Cb2 receptor expression.
  • To explore the influence of exercise on Cb2 receptor expression in the context of stress and fear conditioning.

Main Methods:

Keywords:
Cb(2)anxietyendocannabinoidexercisehippocampusinduction

Related Experiment Videos

  • Utilized a Stress-Alternatives Model (SAM) arena for repeated social defeat and fear conditioning in mice.
  • Measured Cb2 receptor gene expression (mRNA levels) in dorsal and ventral hippocampal subregions.
  • Assessed behavioral phenotypes including submission, escape, freezing, and escape latency, with and without access to a running wheel.

Main Results:

  • Social aggression combined with fear conditioning significantly increased Cb2 receptor gene expression in dorsal CA1 and dentate gyrus subregions of submissive mice.
  • Escape behavior correlated with reduced Cb2 expression in the dorsal CA1 region.
  • Animals exhibiting escape or submission and having access to a running wheel showed increased Cb2 mRNA in dorsal DG/CA1.

Conclusions:

  • The Cb2 receptor system is rapidly induced by anxiogenic social interactions and fear conditioning.
  • Exercise in conjunction with stress also enhances Cb2 receptor expression in key hippocampal areas.
  • These findings suggest that Cb2 receptor modulation may represent an adaptive mechanism for coping with stress and fear.