Effect of prenatal exposure to the cannabinoid receptor agonist WIN55,212-2 on postmitotic neuroblast during periods of cortical migration

TMM. SAEZ; HA. BRUSCO

Huerta Grande, Córdoba

Congreso; XXV REUNIÓN ANUAL DE LA SOCIEDAD ARGENTINA DE INVESTIGACIÓN EN NEUROCIENCIAS - XII TALLER ARGENTINO DE NEUROCIENCIAS.; 2010

Sociedad Argentina de Investigaciones en Neurociencias

The endocannabinoid system plays a modulatory role in specific processes of brain development such as radial and tangential migration and cell proliferation. Neurons of the cerebral cortex derive from two sources: projection neurons, which migrate radially from the neuroepithelium of the dorsal pallium and interneurons, which migrate tangentially from the ganglionic eminence. Cajal-Retzius (CR) cells are the earliest generated cortical neurons and migrate from the borders of the developing pallium. Doublecortin is a microtubule-associated protein expressed in postmitotic neurons during periods of migration. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of prenatal exposure to cannabinoid CB1/CB2 receptor agonist WIN55,212-2 (WIN) on postmitotic neuroblast in the fetal cortex. Pregnant Wistar rats were treated, from gestational day 5 to 16, at a daily WIN dose (0.75mg/kg). WIN-exposed rats showed altered disposition and orientation of tangential and radial migrating postmitotic neuroblast. No changes were observed in number of proliferating cells in the ventricular zone. Prenatal exposure to WIN increase the number of CR cells in the marginal zone. The effects of cannabinoids on cortical development may by due to its effects on the generation and/or migration of neuroblasts.