Although adverse effects of cannabinoids on pregnancy have been indicated for many years, the mechanisms by which they exert their actions were not clearly understood. Only recently, molecular and biochemical…
Keyword: Endocannabinoid/s
Multiple Roles for the Endocannabinoid System During the Earliest Stages of Life: Pre- and Postnatal Development
The endocannabinoid system, including its receptors (CB1 and CB2), endogenous ligands (‘endocannabinoids’), synthesising and degrading enzymes, as well as transporter molecules, has been detected from the earliest stages of embryonic…
Neuropharmacology of the Endocannabinoid Signaling System-Molecular Mechanisms, Biological Actions and Synaptic Plasticity
The endocannabinoid signaling system is composed of the cannabinoid receptors; their endogenous ligands, the endocannabinoids; the enzymes that produce and inactivate the endocannabinoids; and the endocannabinoid transporters. The endocannabinoids are…
Presence of functional cannabinoid receptors in human endocrine pancreas
Aims/hypothesis: We examined the presence of functional cannabinoid receptors 1 and 2 (CB1, CB2) in isolated human islets, phenotyped the cells producing cannabinoid receptors and analysed the actions of selective…
Proapoptotic effect of endocannabinoids in prostate cancer cells
In the early stages, prostate cancer is androgendependent; therefore, medical castration has shown significant results during the initial stages of this pathology. Despite this early effect, advanced prostate cancer is…
Receptor-dependent and receptor-independent endocannabinoid signaling: A therapeutic target for regulation of cancer growth
The endocannabinoid system comprises the G-protein coupled CB1 cannabinoid receptor (CB1R) and CB2 cannabinoid receptor (CB2R), their endogenous ligands (endocannabinoids), and the enzymes responsible for their synthesis and catabolism. Recent…
Role of Endocannabinoids and Cannabinoid-1 Receptors in Cerebrocortical Blood Flow Regulation
Background: Endocannabinoids are among the most intensively studied lipid mediators of cardiovascular functions. In the present study the effects of decreased and increased activity of the endocannabinoid system (achieved by…
Role of the Cannabinoid System in Pain Control and Therapeutic Implications for the Management of Acute and Chronic Pain Episodes
Abstract Cannabis extracts and synthetic cannabinoids are still widely considered illegal substances. Preclinical and clinical studies have suggested that they may result useful to treat diverse diseases, including those related…
Role of the Endocannabinoid System in the Neuroendocrine Responses to Inflammation
A few years ago the endocannabinoid system has been recognized as a major neuromodulatory system whose main functions are to exert and maintain the body homeostasis. Several different endocannabinoids are…
siRNA knockdown of GPR18 receptors in BV-2 microglia attenuates N-arachidonoyl glycineinduced cell migration
Background: Neurons are known to employ the endogenous cannabinoid system to communicate with other cells of the CNS. Endocannabioid signaling recruits microglia toward neurons by engaging cannabinoid CB2 and abnormal…