ABSTRACT: Cannabis has been around for thousands of years and has been used recreationally, medicinally, and for fiber. Over 500 compounds have been isolated from Cannabis sativawith approximately 105 being cannabinoids. Of those 105 compounds, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol has been determined as the primary constituent, which is also responsible for the psychoactivity associated ... Continue Reading
Anxiety
STUDY: Allosteric modulation of the 5-HT3 receptor
ABSTRACT: 5-Hydroxytryptamine type 3 (5-HT3) receptors are ligand-gated ion channels that play important roles in depression, anxiety, substance abuse, emesis, inflammatory pain, spinal nociception, gastrointestinal function, and cardiovascular reflexes. Probably the most studied modulators of 5-HT3 receptors are the high affinity competitive ‘setron’ antagonists typified by ... Continue Reading
STUDY: Anxiety – The Role of Cannabinoids in Modulating Emotional and Non-Emotional Memory Processes in the Hippocampus
ABSTRACT: Cannabinoid agonists generally have a disruptive effect on memory, learning, and operant behavior that is considered to be hippocampus-dependent. Nevertheless, under certain conditions, cannabinoid receptor activation may facilitate neuronal learning processes. For example, CB1 receptors are essential for the extinction of conditioned fear associations, indicating ... Continue Reading
STUDY: Fine-tuning of defensive behaviors in the dorsal periaqueductal gray by atypical neurotransmitters
ABSTRACT: This paper presents an up-to-date review of the evidence indicating that atypical neurotransmitters such as nitric oxide (NO) and endocannabinoids (eCBs) play an important role in the regulation of aversive responses in the periaqueductal gray (PAG). Among the results supporting this role, several studies have shown that inhibitors of neuronal NO synthase or ... Continue Reading
STUDY: Allosteric modulation of glycine receptors
ABSTRACT: Inhibitory (or strychnine sensitive) glycine receptors (GlyRs) are anion-selective transmitter-gated ion channels of the cys-loop superfamily, which includes among others also the inhibitory γ-aminobutyric acid receptors (GABAA receptors). While GABA mediates fast inhibitory neurotransmission throughout the CNS, the action of glycine as a fast inhibitory ... Continue Reading