Mammalian tissues contain two types of cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2. The aim of our study was an evaluation of the influence of a single i.p. injection of a stable analogue of an endogenous cannabinoid anandamide--R-(+)-methanandamide (2.5 mg/kg) and CP 55,940 (0.25 mg/kg), which is an exogenous agonist of CB1 receptors, on the immunoreactivity of regulatory peptides, produced in rat thyro...

There are at least two types of cannabinoid receptor, CB1 and CB2, both G protein coupled. CB1 receptors are expressed predominantly at nerve terminals and mediate inhibition of transmitter release. CB2 receptors are found mainly on immune cells, one of their roles being to modulate cytokine release. Endogenous ligands for these receptors (endocannabinoids) also exist. These discoveries have pr...

The human body possesses specific binding sites on the surface of many cell types for cannabinoids, and our body produces several endocannabinoids, fatty acid derivatives that bind to these cannabinoid receptors (CB) and activate them. CB receptors and endocannabinoids together constitute the endocannabinoid system. Some phytocannabinoids, cannabinoids of the cannabis plant, and a multitude of ...

The neurotrophin brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a potent regulator of inhibitory synaptic transmission, although the locus of this effect and the underlying mechanisms are controversial. We explored a potential interaction between BDNF and endogenous cannabinoid (endocannabinoid) signaling because activation of type 1 cannabinoid (CB1) receptors potently regulates γ-aminobutyric ac...

Background CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors are G protein-coupled receptors which have been described to couple mainly to the Gi/o subfamily of G proteins. However, in some cell types and upon stimulation with certain cannabinoid agonists, activation of other G protein subtypes has also been observed. GPR55 is an orphan G protein-coupled receptor which has been suggested to be a novel member o...

Previous evidence suggests that the endogenous cannabinoid system could emerge and be operative early during brain development. In the present study, we have explored the distribution of specific binding for cannabinoid receptors in rat brain at gestational day 21 (GD21), postnatal days 5 (PND5) and 30 (PND30), and at adult age (> 70 days after birth) by using autoradiography with [3H]CP-55,940...

We evaluated the ability of cannabidiol (CBD) to impair the migration of tumor cells stimulated by conditioned medium. CBD caused concentration-dependent inhibition of the migration of U87 glioma cells, quantified in a Boyden chamber. Since these cells express both cannabinoid CB1 and CB2 receptors in the membrane, we also evaluated their engagement in the antimigratory effect of CBD. The inhib...

introduction: previous studies have shown that cannabinoidergic system is involved in anxiety. however, there are controversial reports in the experimental studies. the aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of pharmacological stimulation or blocking of cb1 receptors and inhibition of endocannabinoid degradation in anxiety like behavior in elevated plus-maze (epm) test in rat. the epm is o...

The dietary polyphenols trans-resveratrol [5-[(1E)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethenyl]-1,3-benzenediol; found in red wine] and curcumin [1,7-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1E,6E-heptadiene-3,5-dione] (found in curry powders) exert anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects via poorly defined mechanisms. It is interesting that cannabinoids, derived from the marijuana plant (Cannabis sativa), produce simi...

Exercise is rewarding, and long-distance runners have described a runner's high as a sudden pleasant feeling of euphoria, anxiolysis, sedation, and analgesia. A popular belief has been that endogenous endorphins mediate these beneficial effects. However, running exercise increases blood levels of both β-endorphin (an opioid) and anandamide (an endocannabinoid). Using a combination of pharmacolo...