Riccio Lorenzo, Chianese Teresa, Mileo Aldo, Balsamo Sabrina, Sciarrillo Rosaria, Gatta Roberta, Rosati Luigi, De Falco Maria, Capaldo Anna
Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, Via Federico Delpino, 80137 Naples, Italy.
Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cinthia, Edificio 7, 80126 Naples, Italy.
Animals (Basel). 2025 Jun 12;15(12):1734. doi: 10.3390/ani15121734.
Previous studies performed on the European eel showed changes in the morphology and physiology of several tissues after exposure to environmental cocaine concentrations. To better understand the model through which cocaine produced its effects on these tissues, we investigated whether there were alterations in the expression of cannabinoid CB1 receptor (CB1R). Indeed, the endocannabinoid system, and CB1R, regulate neurotransmission, neurodevelopment, embryonic development, reproduction, and the activity of the gastrointestinal system. CB1R has been detected in nervous and peripheral tissues in mammals, and orthologues of the mammalian CB1R are found throughout vertebrates including chicken, turtle, frog, and fish. Therefore, samples of gut, kidney, ovary, muscle, liver, skin, and gills from cocaine-exposed and non-exposed eels were processed for routine histology. Immunohistochemical analysis was carried out to evaluate the immunolocalization of the CB1R. Our results showed for the first time (1) the presence of CB1R in the peripheral tissues of the eel, and (2) statistically significant differences in the localization of CB1R in the gut, kidney, ovary, muscle, and liver of the eels exposed to cocaine, compared to controls. These results demonstrate the involvement of CB1R in cocaine effects and suggest its potential role as a biomarker of tissue alteration.
先前对欧洲鳗鲡进行的研究表明，暴露于环境可卡因浓度后，几种组织的形态和生理发生了变化。为了更好地理解可卡因对这些组织产生影响的模式，我们研究了大麻素CB1受体（CB1R）的表达是否存在改变。事实上，内源性大麻素系统和CB1R调节神经传递、神经发育、胚胎发育、生殖以及胃肠系统的活动。在哺乳动物的神经组织和外周组织中已检测到CB1R，并且在包括鸡、龟、青蛙和鱼类在内的整个脊椎动物中都发现了哺乳动物CB1R的同源物。因此，对暴露于可卡因和未暴露于可卡因的鳗鲡的肠道、肾脏、卵巢、肌肉、肝脏、皮肤和鳃样本进行常规组织学处理。进行免疫组织化学分析以评估CB1R的免疫定位。我们的结果首次表明：（1）鳗鲡外周组织中存在CB1R；（2）与对照组相比，暴露于可卡因的鳗鲡的肠道、肾脏、卵巢、肌肉和肝脏中CB1R的定位存在统计学上的显著差异。这些结果证明了CB1R参与可卡因效应，并表明其作为组织改变生物标志物的潜在作用。
