Anandamide physiological significance

Sugiura T, Kobayashi Y, Oka S, Waku K (2002) Biosynthesis and degradation of anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol and their possible physiological significance. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids 66 173-192... 

More than 10 years have passed since the discovery of anandamide. However, its exact physiological signihcance has not yet been fully understood anandamide still exists as a rather mysterious molecule. A thorough elucidation of the physiological significance of anandamide in mammalian tissues has to await future investigation. 

The metabolism of anandamide is a variable process that differs in various cell types. It is metabolized by COX and LOX to form families of novel lipids that are pharmacologically active. Some enzymes display low activity toward anandamide nevertheless, in the absence of other metabolic alternatives, such pathways may become significant. The physiological importance of these novel metaboUc pathways remains to be established. 

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