Figure 1. Corticosterone administration rapidly mobilizes anandamide in limbic structures and 2-AG within the hypothalamus.
Systemic administration of corticosterone (CORT), at doses of 3 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg, resulted in a significant increase in the tissue content of anandamide (AEA) within the amygdala, hippocampus and hypothalamus, but not the prefrontal cortex. Similarly, a significant increase in the tissue content of 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) within the hypothalamus, but not the prefrontal cortex, amygdala or hippocampus was seen following administration of the 10 mg/kg dose of corticosterone exclusively. These effects were all seen 10 min following corticosterone administration and had largely dissipated at 1 h following administration. Values denoted are means ± SEM; n = 5-6 for each treatment condition. * denotes significant differences (p < .05).