Summary
This 2025 Nature Neuroscience study identifies astrocytic cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) in the nucleus accumbens shell as a key mediator of resilience to chronic social stress in adult male mice. High CB1 expression in astrocytic end-feet ensheathing blood vessels was associated with protection against stress-induced blood–brain barrier alterations and neuroinflammatory responses. Viral-mediated overexpression of Cnr1 in astrocytes produced anxiolytic effects at baseline and attenuated stress- and immune challenge-induced pathological changes, suggesting a neurovascular mechanism underlying psychological resilience.
UK applicability
This preclinical mouse study was not conducted in the UK, though its findings on endocannabinoid signalling, neuroinflammation, and stress resilience are of broad relevance to UK psychiatric and neuroscience research communities investigating depression and anxiety disorders.
Key measures
Astrocytic CB1 receptor expression levels; anxiety- and depression-like behaviour scores; blood–brain barrier permeability markers; vascular-related gene expression; astrocyte inflammatory response and morphological changes
Outcomes reported
The study measured behavioural outcomes (anxiety- and depression-like behaviours), blood–brain barrier integrity, astrocyte morphology and inflammatory markers, and vascular gene expression in mice subjected to chronic social stress following manipulation of astrocytic CB1 receptor expression in the nucleus accumbens shell.
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