Abstract

The metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) receptor 5 and the cannabinoid type 1 (CB1) receptor are G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) that are widely expressed in the central nervous system (CNS). mGlu5 receptors, present at the postsynaptic site, are coupled to Gαq/11 proteins and display an excitatory response upon activation, while the CB1 receptor, mainly present at presynaptic terminals, is coupled to the Gi/o protein and triggers an inhibitory response. Recent studies suggest that the glutamatergic and endocannabinoid systems exhibit a functional interaction to modulate several neural processes. In this review we discuss possible mechanisms involved in this crosstalk and its relationship with physiological and pathological conditions, including nociception, addiction and fragil X syndrome.