Endocannabinoid

Matias I, Di Marzo V (2007) Endocannabinoids and the control of energy balance. Trends Endocrinol Metab 18 27-37... 

Endocannabinoids are endogenous mediators acting via the binding to, and activation of, cannabinoid receptors, CBX and CB2 [1]. iV-arachidonoy 1-ethanol-amine (AEA, anandamide) and 2-arachidonoyl-glycerol (2-AG) (Fig. 1) are the two most studied endocannabinoids. In the nervous system, endocannabinoids act as... 

Endocannabinoids. Figure 1 Chemical structures of the two most studied endocannabinoids, anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol, of Cannabis sativa psychoactive principle, A9-tetrahydrocannabinol, and of the CB-i receptor antagonist/inverse agonist, rimonabant. 

Endocannabinoids. Table 1 Changes of endocannabinoid levels during pathological conditions and subsequent possible pharmacological interventions... 

Disorder Effects on endocannabinoid levels Potential drugs... 

Parkinson s disease (PD) 1. In a non-human primate model of PD endocannabinoid levels are elevated in the basal ganglia and may contribute to the generation of parkinsonian symptoms and/or to expression of levodopa-induced dyskinesia. The cerebrospinal fluid of untreated PD patients contains elevated levels of AEA 1. CB-) antagonists or biosynthesis inhibitors... 

Neuronal excitotoxicity AEA levels are elevated in the hippocampus of mice treated with kainic acid. 2-AG levels are elevated in rats treated with pilocarpine These are two animal models of epileptic seizures, where the endocannabinoids play an anti-convulsant and protective function Inhibitors of cellular re-uptake... 

Neuropathic pain Endocannabinoid levels are elevated in FAAH inhibitors... 

Obesity and hyperglycemia 2. 2-AG levels are elevated in mouse adipocytes and epididymal of mice with DIO. AEA and 2-AG levels are elevated in rat insulinoma p-cells, in pancreas of mice with DIO, and in obese women. Patients with obesity or hyperglycaemia caused by type 2 diabetes exhibit elevated levels of 2-AG or of both endocannabinoids in visceral fat or blood, respectively. AEA levels are elevated in the liver of DIO mice 2. CB1 antagonists... 

Based on the role of endocannabinoids and cannabinoid receptors in several pathological conditions, the pharmacological manipulation of their levels or action is being developed as a therapeutic strategy. Enhancement of endocannabinoid signalling when this plays uniquely a protective role can be effected in a safer way using (i) cannabis extracts in which the presence of non-psychotropic cannabinoids with therapeutic activity per... 

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