Chronic corticosterone treatment increases the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonylglycerol in the rat amygdala

This research was designed to examine the effect of three weeks of administration of corticosterone (20 mg/kg) on endocannabinoid content and cannabinoid CB1 receptor binding in the amygdala. It was found that the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonylglycerol was significantly increased in the amygdala following chronic corticosterone treatment. However, there was no change in either the maximal binding (Bmax) or binding affinity (KD) of [3H]-CP 55,940 to the CB1 receptor in the amygdala. Given the role of amygdalar endocannabinoids in the regulation of emotionality, this suggests that the ability of glucocorticoids to influence affective behavior may involve interactions with regulation of endocannabinoid content.