Mechanisms of endocannabinoid control of synaptic plasticity

The endogenous cannabinoid transmitter system regulates synaptic transmission throughout the nervous system. Unlike conventional transmitters, specific stimuli induce synthesis of endocannabinoids (eCBs) in the postsynaptic neuron, and these travel backwards to modulate presynaptic inputs. In doing so, eCBs can induce short-term changes in synaptic strength and longer-term plasticity. While this eCB regulation is near ubiquitous, it displays major regional and synapse specific variations with different synapse specific forms of short-versus long-term plasticity throughout the brain. These differences are due to the plethora of pre- and postsynaptic mechanisms which have been implicated in eCB signalling, the intricacies of which are only just being realised. In this review, we shall describe the current understanding and highlight new advances in this area, with a focus on the retrograde action of eCBs at CB1 receptors (CB(1)Rs). This article is part of the special Issue on 'Cannabinoids'.

Automated summary

This article discusses how the endogenous cannabinoid transmitter system regulates synaptic transmission throughout the nervous system by inducing the synthesis of endocannabinoids in the postsynaptic neuron to modulate presynaptic inputs, leading to short-term and long-term plasticity changes. While this regulation is nearly ubiquitous, there are major regional and synapse-specific variations in different regions of the brain due to the myriad pre- and postsynaptic mechanisms involved in eCB signaling.