CNC-UC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal.
CIBB-Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal.
Cells. 2024 Nov 13;13(22):1875. doi: 10.3390/cells13221875.
The endocannabinoid signalling system (ECS) plays a critical role from the very beginning of embryogenesis. Accordingly, the ECS is engaged early on in nervous system development, starting from neurulation, supported by the identification of ECS components-both receptors and enzymes controlling endocannabinoid metabolism-at these early stages. In particular, regarding the brain, the ECS is involved in the tightly regulated sequence of events that comprise brain development, from neurogenesis to neuronal migration, morphological guidance for neuronal connectivity, and synaptic circuitry refinement. The importance of this broad role of the ECS across various brain development processes is further underscored by the growing understanding of the consequences of cannabis exposure at different developmental stages. Despite the considerable knowledge we have on the role of the ECS in brain development, significant gaps in our understanding remain, particularly regarding the long-term impact and underlying mechanisms of cannabis exposure at different developmental stages. This review provides an overview of the current state of knowledge on the role of the ECS throughout brain development, from embryogenesis to adulthood, and discusses the impact of cannabis exposure, especially during adolescence-a critical period of circuitry maturation and refinement coinciding with an increased risk of cannabis use.
内源性大麻素信号系统(ECS)在胚胎发生的早期就起着至关重要的作用。因此,内源性大麻素信号系统很早就参与了神经系统的发育,从神经管形成开始,这一过程得到了内源性大麻素代谢的 EC 成分(包括受体和酶)的鉴定的支持。特别是,就大脑而言,内源性大麻素信号系统参与了大脑发育的严格调控事件序列,包括神经发生、神经元迁移、神经元连接的形态学指导以及突触回路细化。大麻暴露在不同发育阶段对这一广泛作用的重要性进一步凸显了这一作用,因为我们对这一作用的认识不断增加。尽管我们对内源性大麻素信号系统在大脑发育中的作用有了相当多的了解,但仍存在很大的认识差距,特别是在大麻暴露在不同发育阶段的长期影响和潜在机制方面。这篇综述概述了内源性大麻素信号系统在大脑发育过程中的作用,从胚胎发生到成年期,并讨论了大麻暴露的影响,特别是在青春期——这是一个与大麻使用风险增加相关的电路成熟和细化的关键时期。