Cannabidiol is a component of marijuana that does not activate cannabinoid receptors, but moderately inhibits the degradation of the endocannabinoid anandamide. We previously reported that an elevation of anandamide levels…
Keyword: fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH)
Endocannabinoids and the haematological system
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…
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…
Estradiol Decreases Cortical Reactive Astrogliosis after Brain Injury by a Mechanism Involving Cannabinoid Receptors
The neuroactive steroid estradiol reduces reactive astroglia after brain injury by mechanisms similar to those involved in the regulation of reactive gliosis by endocannabinoids. In this study, we have explored…
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…
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…
Targeting CB2 receptors and the endocannabinoid system for the treatment of pain
The endocannabinoid system consists of the cannabinoid (CB) receptors, CB1 and CB2, the endogenous ligands anandamide (AEA, arachidonoylethanolamide) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), and their synthetic and metabolic machinery. The use of…
The Endogenous Cannabinoid System and Its Role in Nociceptive Behavior
Abstract The analgesic properties of exogenous cannabinoids have been recognized for many years and suggest a regulatory role for the endogenous cannabinoid (“endocannabinoid”) system in mammalian nociceptive pathways. The endocannabinoid…