The Cannabinoid 1–Receptor Silent Antagonist O-2050 Attenuates Preference for High-Fat Diet and Activated Astrocytes in Mice

Abstract

Endocannabinoids have been shown to activate reward-related feeding and to promote astrocytic differentiation. We investigated whether high-fat diet (HFD) intake produced a preference for HFD via an endocannabinoid-dependent mechanism. In the conditioned place preference test, the 2-week HFD–intake group showed preference for HFD and had increased expression of a marker for reactive astrocytes, glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP), in the hypothalamus. The cannabinoid CB₁–receptor antagonist O-2050 reduced the preference for HFD and expression of GFAP in the hypothalamus. These results suggested that HFD intake led to the development of a preference for HFD via astrocytic CB₁ receptors in the hypothalamus.