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Endocannabinoid protection of the brain vasculature leads to stress resilience

Changes in blood–brain barrier (BBB) properties and endocannabinoid system function contribute to stress responses and have been implicated in the development of mood disorders. Here, we report a mechanism linking both systems, in which neurovascular endocannabinoids prevented loss of BBB integrity induced by stress-related inflammation, resulting in stress resilience.

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Fig. 1: High expression of cannabinoid receptor 1 on astrocyte endfeet is associated with stress resilience.

References

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This is a summary of: Dudek, K. A. et al. Astrocytic cannabinoid receptor 1 promotes resilience by dampening stress-induced blood–brain barrier alterations. Nat. Neurosci. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41593-025-01891-9 (2025).

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Endocannabinoid protection of the brain vasculature leads to stress resilience. Nat Neurosci (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41593-025-01892-8

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