Xenopus laevis CB1 cannabinoid receptor:: Molecular cloning and mRNA distribution in the central nervous system

In the present research we isolated and characterized Xenopus laevis CB1 cannabinoid receptor mRNA. The CB1 coding sequence shows a high degree of identity with those of other vertebrates, mammals included, confirming that CB1 receptor is conserved over the course of vertebrate evolution. Notably, the similarity between the X. laevis CB1 sequence and that of the urodele amphibian Taricha granulosa is not higher than the similarity existing between Xenopus and mammals, thus supporting phylogenetic distance between anurans and urodeles. By means of in situ hybridization histochemistry, CB1 mRNA expression and distribution was investigated in the X. laevis central nervous system. As revealed, CB I mRNA-containing neurons are numerous in the prosencephalon, especially in the olfactory bulbs, telencephalic pallium, and hypothalamus. In the midbrain and hindbrain, labeled cells were observed in the mesencephalic tegmentum and dorsolateral romboencephalon. Abundant CB1 mRNA positive neurons are localized throughout the gray matter of the spinal cord, in particular in the dorsal and ventral fields, where labeled motor neurons are also observed. The distribution of CB1 mRNA in the Xenopus CNS is generally consistent with the CB1-like-immunohistochemistry results we have previously obtained, showing in amphibians a well developed cannabinergic system almost comparable to that described in mammals. However, some differences, such as the abundance of CB1 mRNA-containing neurons in the olfactory system and the rich CB1 spinal innervation, are found. (C) 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.