Prostaglandins (PG) are effective abortifacients and are important mediators of lipopolisaccharide (LPS)-induced embryonic resorption (ER). Besides, anandamide (AEA) has been described as one of the major endocannabinoids present in the uterus suggesting that it might play a role in reproduction. It has been reported that high levels of AEA are associated with pregnancy failure and that LPS inc...

Indirect evidence for the existence of a specific protein-mediated process for the cellular uptake of endocannabinoids has been reported, but recent results suggested that such a process, at least for AEA [ N -arachidonoylethanolamine (anandamide)], is facilitated uniquely by its intracellular hydrolysis by FAAH (fatty acid amide hydrolase) [Glaser, Abumrad, Fatade, Kaczocha, Studholme and Deut...

Because Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) inhibited luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) in male rats, we hypothesized that the endocannabinoid, anandamide (AEA), would act similarly. AEA microinjected intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) decreased plasma luteinizing hormone (LH) at 30 min in comparison to values in controls (P < 0.001). The cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1-r)-specific antago...

Converging evidence has suggested that anandamide (AEA), an endogenous agonist of cannabinoid (CB) receptors, can directly interact with certain types of ligand-gated ion channels (LGICs). However, little is known about the molecular and cellular mechanisms of AEA-induced direct effects on LGICs. Here, we report that AEA inhibited the function of serotoningated ion channels (5-HT(3A)) expressed...

Objectives The purpose of this study was to investigate the change in plasma anandamide (AEA) levels throughout the normal menstrual cycle, and to analyze the relationship among AEA, sex steroids and gonadotrophins. Materials and Methods The patients were fertile women with normal menstrual cycle, proposed to get in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment due to oviduct obstruction or male infert...

Gastric slow waves (GSW) are known to regulate gastric motility and are impaired with rectal distention (RD). Electroacupuncture (EA) at body acupoints, such as ST 36, has been shown to improve gastric dysrhythmias; however, little is known about the possible effects of auricular electroacupuncture (AEA) on GSW. To study effects and possible mechanisms of AEA on RD-induced gastric dysrhythmias ...

The endocannabinoid anandamide (AEA) causes vasorelaxation in animal studies. Although circulating AEA levels are increased in many pathologies, little is known about its vascular effects in humans. The aim of this work was to characterise the effects of AEA in human arteries. Ethical approval was granted to obtain mesenteric arteries from patients (n=31) undergoing bowel resection. Wire myogra...

Recent research has revealed that endogenous cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2) react with the active ingredient of marijuana, Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol. Two endogenous ligands activate these receptors. The principal one, anandamide (AEA), activates CB1. AEA and CB1 are localized to various neurons within the brain. Because Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol inhibited prolactin (Prl) secretion ...

N-Arachidonylethanolamine (AEA), a putative endogenous agonist of neuronal (CB1) cannabinoid receptors, is a substrate for N-arachidonylethanolamine amidohydrolase (AEA amidohydrolase), a serine amidase present in cell membranes. Following a strategy that has been used to develop inhibitors that covalently bind to the active site of serine peptidases, diazomethyl arachidonyl ketone (DAK) was sy...

The endocannabinoid anandamide (arachidonoyl ethanolamide, AEA) is an uncharged neuromodulatory lipid that, similar to many neurotransmitters, is inactivated through its cellular uptake and subsequent catabolism. AEA is hydrolyzed by fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), an enzyme localized on the endoplasmic reticulum. In contrast to most neuromodulators, the hydrophilic cytosol poses a diffusion...