Search results for "Cannabinoid"
showing 10 items of 323 documents
The CB1 cannabinoid receptor mediates excitotoxicity-induced neural progenitor proliferation and neurogenesis.
2007
Endocannabinoids are lipid signaling mediators that exert an important neuromodulatory role and confer neuroprotection in several types of brain injury. Excitotoxicity and stroke can induce neural progenitor (NP) proliferation and differentiation as an attempt of neuroregeneration after damage. Here we investigated the mechanism of hippocampal progenitor cell engagement upon excitotoxicity induced by kainic acid administration and the putative involvement of the CB1 cannabinoid receptor in this process. Adult NPs express kainate receptors that mediate proliferation and neurosphere generation in vitro via CB1 cannabinoid receptors. Similarly, in vivo studies showed that excitotoxicity-induce…
The identification of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha-independent effects of oleoylethanolamide on intestinal transit in mice
2009
Oleoylethanolamide (OEA) is an endogenous lipid produced in the intestine that mediates satiety by activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha). OEA inhibits gastric emptying and intestinal motility, but the mechanism of action remains to be determined. We investigated whether OEA inhibits intestinal motility by activation of PPARalpha. PPARalpha immunoreactivity was examined in whole mount preparations of mouse gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The effect of OEA on motility was assessed in wildtype, PPARalpha, cannabinoid CB(1) receptor and CB(2) receptor gene-deficient mice and in a model of accelerated GI transit. In addition, the effect of OEA on motility was as…
Endocannabinoid anandamide mediates hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction
2013
Endocannabinoids are important regulators of organ homeostasis. Although their role in systemic vasculature has been extensively studied, their impact on pulmonary vessels remains less clear. Herein, we show that the endocannabinoid anandamide (AEA) is a key mediator of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV) via fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH)-dependent metabolites. This is underscored by the prominent vasoconstrictive effect of AEA on pulmonary arteries and strongly reduced HPV in FAAH(-/-) mice and wild-type mice upon pharmacological treatment with FAAH inhibitor URB597. In addition, mass spectrometry measurements revealed a clear increase of AEA and the FAAH-dependent metabolite arac…
Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone-Mediated Induction of Intracellular Signaling Pathways and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Expression Is Inhibited …
2005
CRH receptor (CRHR) 1 and the cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) are both G protein-coupled receptors. Activation of CRHR1 leadstoincreasesincAMPproductionandphosphorylationof the transcription factor cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB). In contrast, CB1 is negatively coupled to the cAMP signaling cascade. In this study, we analyzed a putative interaction between these two systems focusing on the regulation of the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a CREB-regulated gene. In situ hybridization revealed coexpression of CRHR1 and CB1 receptors in the granular layer of the cerebellum. Therefore, we analyzed the effects of CRH and the CB1 agonist WIN-55,212-2 on BDNF expr…
Effect of Acetaldehyde Intoxication and Withdrawal on NPY Expression: Focus on Endocannabinoidergic System Involvement
2014
Acetaldehyde (ACD), the first alcohol metabolite, plays a pivotal role in the rewarding, motivational and addictive properties of the parental compound. Many studies have investigated the role of ACD in mediating neurochemical and behavioral effects induced by alcohol administration, but very little is known about the modulation of neuropeptide systems following ACD intoxication and withdrawal. Indeed the neuropeptide Y (NPY) system is altered during alcohol withdrawal in key regions for cerebrocortical excitability and neuroplasticity. The primary goal of this research was to investigate the effects of ACD intoxication and withdrawal by recording rat behavior and by measuring neuropeptide …
Stability of Cannabinoids in Hair Samples Exposed to Sunlight
2000
It has been well recognized that hashish and marihuana lose potency during storage because of a decrease in the content of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is the major psychoactive constituent of cannabis (1). The effect of oxygen on stored plant and resin materials or solutions of pure cannabinoids seems much less significant than that of higher temperatures (≥37 °C) or light (2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7). A few data are available on the stability of THC and major metabolites in blood (8)(9)(10)(11). However, the stability of cannabinoids in the hair shaft has not been addressed, although scalp hair represents one of the most exposed parts of the body. Therefore, a study was performed to elucidate …
The Role of the Amygdala in the Extinction of Conditioned Fear
2006
The amygdala has long been known to play a central role in the acquisition and expression of fear. More recently, convergent evidence has implicated the amygdala in the extinction of fear as well. In rodents, some of this evidence comes from the infusion of drugs directly into the amygdala and, in particular, into the basolateral complex of the amygdala, during or after extinction learning. In vivo electrophysiology has identified cellular correlates of extinction learning and memory in the lateral nucleus of that structure. Human imaging experiments also indicate that amygdaloid activity correlates with extinction training. In addition, some studies have directly identified changes in mole…
Characterization of the synthetic cannabinoid MDMB-CHMCZCA
2016
The synthetic cannabinoid MDMB-CHMCZCA was characterized by various spectroscopic techniques including NMR spectroscopy and tandem mass spectrometry. The synthetic sample was found to be of S-configuration by VCD spectroscopy and comparison of the data with DFT calculations, while ECD spectroscopy was found to be inconclusive in this case. The enantiomeric purity of samples from test purchases and police seizures was assessed by a self-developed chiral HPLC method.
Mitochondrial cannabinoid receptors gate corticosterone impact on novel object recognition
2023
: Corticosteroid-mediated stress responses require the activation of complex brain circuits involving mitochondrial activity, but the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms are scantly known. The endocannabinoid system is implicated in stress coping, and it can directly regulate brain mitochondrial functions via type 1 cannabinoid (CB1) receptors associated with mitochondrial membranes (mtCB1). In this study, we show that the impairing effect of corticosterone in the novel object recognition (NOR) task in mice requires mtCB1 receptors and the regulation of mitochondrial calcium levels in neurons. Different brain circuits are modulated by this mechanism to mediate the impact of cortico…