BACKGROUND/AIMS The endocannabinoid signalling (ECS) system has been known to regulate glucose homeostasis. Previous studies have suggested that the cannabinoid 2 (CB2) receptor may play a regulatory role on insulin secretion, immune modulation and insulin resistance. Given that diabetes and insulin resistance are attributable to elevated inflammatory tone, we investigated the role of CB2 recep...

Effects of the CB2-selective cannabinoid agonist AM1241 on activity evoked in spinal wide dynamic range (WDR) neurons by transcutaneous electrical stimulation were evaluated in urethane-anesthetized rats. Recordings were obtained in both the absence and the presence of carrageenan inflammation. AM1241, administered intravenously or locally in the paw, suppressed activity evoked by transcutaneou...

Based on both binding and functional data, this study introduces SR 144528 as the first, highly potent, selective and orally active antagonist for the CB2 receptor. This compound which displays subnanomolar affinity (Ki = 0.6 nM) for both the rat spleen and cloned human CB2 receptors has a 700-fold lower affinity (Ki = 400 nM) for both the rat brain and cloned human CB1 receptors. Furthermore i...

In this study we evaluated the effects of the CB1/CB2 cannabinoid receptor agonist CP55, 940 (CP) on antigen-induced asthma-like reaction in sensitized guinea pigs and we tested the ability of the specific CB2 receptor antagonist SR144528 (SR) and CB1 receptor antagonist AM251 (AM) to interfere with the effects of CP. Ovalbumin-sensitized guinea pigs placed in a respiratory chamber were challen...

BACKGROUND T-type calcium channels and cannabinoid receptors are known to play important roles in chronic pain, making them attractive therapeutic targets. We recently reported on the design, synthesis and analgesic properties of a novel T-type channel inhibitor (NMP-7), which also shows mixed agonist activity on CB1 and CB2 receptors in vitro. Here, we analyzed the analgesic effect of systemic...

Background: T-type calcium channels and cannabinoid receptors are known to play important roles in chronic pain, making them attractive therapeutic targets. We recently reported on the design, synthesis and analgesic properties of a novel T-type channel inhibitor (NMP-7), which also shows mixed agonist activity on CB1 and CB2 receptors in vitro. Here, we analyzed the analgesic effect of systemi...

Progress in the development of novel treatments for chronic pain syndromes relies, in part, on both clinically-relevant animal model simulations and analgesic screening procedures [5]. Simulations purport to mimic the features of a clinical syndrome and screenings are geared towards drug discovery. The validity of any animal model simulation is based on how well that model fits the human clinic...

endocannabinoid (ecb) system plays a vital role in responses to stress. moreover, ecb and its receptors cause anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative and neuroprotective effects by modulating neuronal, glial and endothelial cell functions. a number of studies have demonstrated ecb system notably defects in neurotraumatic and neurodegenerative diseases like epilepsy, tbi, alzheimer’s disease and parki...