Endocannabinoids are blood borne and may also be secreted by the endothelium. Accordingly, there has been interest in the interactions between (endo)cannabinoids and blood cells. There is certainly evidence that…
Condition: Endocannabinoid System (ECS)
Endothelium-dependent metabolism by endocannabinoid hydrolases and cyclooxygenases limits vasorelaxation to anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol
Background and purpose: The endocannabinoids, N-arachidonoylethanolamide (anandamide) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) are rapidly degraded by fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) and monoacylglycerol lipase (MGL). Whilst these lipid mediators are known to…
Enhanced acetylcholine release in the hippocampus of cannabinoid CB1 receptor-deficient mice
We examined whether acetylcholine release in the hippocampus and striatum and noradrenaline release in the hippocampus is altered in CB1 receptor-de®cient mice. The electrically evoked tritium over¯ow from hippocampal slices…
Estrogen Receptor Beta and 2-arachidonoylglycerol Mediate the Suppressive Effects of Estradiol on Frequency of Postsynaptic Currents in Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Neurons of Metestrous Mice: An Acute Slice Electrophysiological Study
Abstract Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons are controlled by 17β-estradiol (E2) contributing to the steroid feedback regulation of the reproductive axis. In rodents, E2 exerts a negative feedback effect upon GnRH…
Evidence for functional CB1 cannabinoid receptor expressed in the rat thyroid
Objective: Previous reports have shown that the D9 -tetrahydrocannabinol (D9 TCH), the major psychoactive cannabinoid components of marijuana, is unable to inhibit thyroid hormonal activity. The aim of this study…
Evidence that the plant cannabinoid cannabigerol is a highly potent a2-adrenoceptor agonist and moderately potent 5HT1A receptor antagonist
Background and purpose: Cannabis is the source of at least seventy phytocannabinoids. The pharmacology of most of these has been little investigated, three notable exceptions being D9 -tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabidiol and…
Fatty Acid Binding Proteins (FABPs) are Intracellular Carriers for ∆9 -Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and Cannabidiol (CBD)
Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) occur naturally in marijuana (Cannabis) and may be formulated, individually or in combination in pharmaceuticals such as Marinol or Sativex. While it is known that…
Hardwiring the Brain: Endocannabinoids Shape Neuronal Connectivity
The roles of endocannabinoid signaling during central nervous system development are unknown. We report that CB1 cannabinoid receptors (CB1Rs) are enriched in the axonal growth cones of g-aminobutyric acid–containing (GABAergic)…
Immunohistochemical analysis of cannabinoid receptor 1 expression in steatotic rat livers
The primary aim of the present study was to determine the expression levels of cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1) in steatotic rat livers. The secondary aim was to clarify whether…