Extensive evidence indicates that endocannabinoids modulate cognitive processes in animal models and human subjects. However, the results of endocannabinoid system manipulations on cognition have been contradictory. As for anxiety behavior, a duality has indeed emerged with regard to cannabinoid effects on memory for emotional experiences. Here we summarize findings describing cannabinoid effec...

1. Abstract 2. Introduction: the endocannabinoid system, an overview 3. The endocannabinoids and energy balance 3.1. The endocannabinoid system and central control of energy balance 3.2. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis 3.3. Gut-brain interactions 3.4. Actions of ecs and ecs on adipose tissue, pancreas and liver 3.4.1. Role of the ECS in the adipose tissue 3.4.2. Role of the ECS in...

Endocannabinoids are key modulators of synaptic function. By activating cannabinoid receptors expressed in the central nervous system, these lipid messengers can regulate several neural functions and behaviors. As experimental tools advance, the repertoire of known endocannabinoid-mediated effects at the synapse, and their underlying mechanism, continues to expand. Retrograde signaling is the p...

Introduction: The endocannabinoid system (ECS) regulates functions throughout human physiology, including neuropsychiatric, cardiovascular, autonomic, metabolic, and inflammatory states. The complex cellular interactions regulated by the ECS suggest a potential for vascular disease and stroke prevention by augmenting central nervous and immune cell endocannabinoid signaling. Discussion: The end...

Spinocerebellar ataxia type-3 (SCA-3) is a rare disease but it is the most frequent type within the autosomal dominant inherited ataxias. The disease lacks an effective treatment to alleviate major symptoms and to modify disease progression. Our recent findings that endocannabinoid receptors and enzymes are significantly altered in the post-mortem cerebellum of patients affected by autosomal-do...

This study investigated the participation of the hypothalamic endocannabinoid system in the response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge evaluating oxytocin (OXT) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) plasma levels in vivo and their release from hypothalamic fragments in vitro. LPS increased OXT and TNF-alpha release through anandamide-activation of hypothalamic cannabinoid receptor CB(...

Humans have used Cannabis sativa (marijuana) for at least 12,000 years, but researchers have only recently described an endogenous cannabinoid system. The endocannabinoid system modulates an array of physiological and psychological functions. Endocannabinoids are widely distributed throughout the body, including the central nervous system (CNS). This article gives a basic overview of endocannab...

Associative learning is important on rapid timescales, but no suitable form of short-term plasticity has been identified that is both associative and synapse specific. Here, we assess whether endocannabinoids can mediate such plasticity. In the cerebellum, bursts of parallel fiber (PF) activity evoke endocannabinoid release from Purkinje cell dendrites that results in retrograde synaptic inhibi...

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...

objective(s) the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of cannabinoid on cortical spreading depression (csd) in rat brain. cannabis has been used for centuries for both symptomatic and prophylactic treatment of different types of headaches including migraine. csd is believed to be a putative neuronal mechanism underlying migraine aura and subsequent pain. materials and methods the ...