Regardless of the differential effects that stress and glucocorticoids exert on the responses of both AEA and 2-AG, similar to stress, there is some evidence that endocannabinoid signalling is involved in the behavioural effects of glucocorticoids. As the rapid, non-genomic effects of glucocorticoids are a relatively unstudied field of research, two recent studies have revealed reliable, rapid effects of glucocorticoids that are dependent upon endocannabinoid signalling. Similar to the effects of stress, administration of corticosterone to the rough-skinned newt results in suppression of courtship behaviour that is blocked by a CB1 receptor antagonist (Coddington et al., 2007). Consistent with this behavioural response, administration of corticosterone suppressed neuronal activation within hindbrain sensory receptive neurons in a CB1 receptor antagonist sensitive manner (Coddington et al., 2007). These data indicate that administration of corticosterone rapidly induces endocannabinoid synthesis to modulate synaptic transmitter release and modulate behavioural responding.
