Expression of the mRNA coding the cannabinoid receptor 2 in the pallidal complex of Macaca fascicularis

Abstract

The putative presence of the cannabinoid receptor type 2 (CB₂-R) in the central nervous system is still a matter of debate. Although first described in peripheral and immune tissues, evidence suggesting the existence of CB₂-Rs in glial cells and even neurons has been made available more recently. By taking advantage of newly designed CB₂-R mRNA riboprobes, we have demonstrated by in situ hybridization and PCR the existence of CB2-R transcripts in a variety of brain areas of the primate Macaca fascicularis, including the cerebral cortex and the hippocampus, as well as in the external and internal divisions of the globus pallidus, both pallidal segments showing the highest abundance of CB₂-R transcripts. In this regard, the presence of the messenger coding CB₂-Rs within the pallidal complex highlights their consideration as potential targets for the treatment of movement disorders of basal ganglia origin.