Functional interactions between catecholamines and cannabinoid transmission systems could explain the influence of Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol on several central activities. Hence, the presence of cannabinoid CB(1) receptors in tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) containing cells has been suggested, providing clue for a direct control of catecholamines synthesis. In the present study, we evidenced the ...

Dronabinol (Delta 9-tetrahydocannabinol, THC), the main source of the pharmacological effects caused by the use of cannabis, is an agonist to both the CB1 and the CB2 subtype of cannabinoid receptors. It is available on prescription in several countries. The non-psychotropic cannabidiol (CBD), some analogues of natural cannabinoids and their metabolites, antagonists at the cannabinoid receptors...

In the present study, we investigated whether anandamide produces its behavioral effects through a cannabinoid CB(1) receptor mechanism of action. The behavioral effects of anandamide were evaluated in mice that lacked both fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) and cannabinoid CB(1) receptors (DKO) as compared to FAAH (-/-), cannabinoid CB(1) (-/-), and wild type mice. Anandamide produced analgesia...

Cannabinoid research has gained remarkable interest in the past ten years after the discoveries of endogenous compounds with cannabimimetic activity and identification of their molecular targets, CB1 and CB2 receptors. Subsequently, attention has focused on putative therapeutic applications of cannabinoids. The non-psychotropic cannabidiol (CBD), some analogues of natural cannabinoids and their...

The cannabinoid system is known to be involved in the regulation of inflammatory processes. Therefore, drugs targeting cannabinoid receptors are considered as candidates for anti-inflammatory and tissue protective therapy. We demonstrated that the prototypical cannabinoid agonist R(+)WIN55,212-2 (WIN) reduced the secretion of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in a murine model of cigarette-smo...

A set of 29 3-alkyl 5-arylimidazolidinediones (hydantoins) with affinity for the human cannabinoid CB(1) receptor was studied for their lipophilicity and conformational properties in order to delineate a pharmacophore. These molecules constitute a new template for cannabinoid receptor recognition, since (a) their structure differs from that of classical cannabinoid ligands and (b) antagonism is...

Emerging data suggest that off-target cannabinoid effects may be mediated via novel seven-transmembrane spanning/G protein-coupled receptors. Due to its cannabinoid sensitivity, the G protein-coupled receptor 55 (GPR55) was recently proposed as a candidate; however, GPR55 is phylogenetically distinct from the traditional cannabinoid receptors, and the conflicting pharmacology, signaling, and fu...

The CB(1) and CB(2) cannabinoid receptors are G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) recognized by a variety of endogenous ligands and activating multiple signalling pathways. This multiplicity of ligands and intracellular transduction mechanisms supports a complex control of physiological functions by the endocannabinoid system, but requires a finely tuned regulation of the signalling events trig...