ABSTRACT: The discovery of the endocannabinoid system (ECS; comprising of G-protein coupled cannabinoid 1 and 2 receptors, their endogenous lipid ligands or endocannabinoids, and synthetic and metabolizing enzymes, triggered an avalanche of experimental studies that have implicated the ECS in a growing number of physiological/pathological functions. They also suggested that ... Continue Reading
Cardiovascular Disease
STUDY: Endocannabinoid system in cardiovascular disorders – new pharmacotherapeutic opportunities
ABSTRACT: The long history of Cannabis sativa had its development stimulated and oriented for medicine after the discovery and chemical characterization of its main active ingredient, the 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (9-THC). Consequently, a binding site for 9-THC was identified in rat brains and the first cannabinoid receptor (CB1) was cloned, followed by the CB2 and by the ... Continue Reading
STUDY: N-arachidonoyl l-serine, an endocannabinoid-like brain constituent with vasodilatory properties
ABSTRACT: The endocannabinoid N-arachidonoyl ethanolamine (anandamide), found both in the CNS and in the periphery, plays a role in numerous physiological systems. One might expect that the chemically related N-arachidonoyl-l-serine (ARA-S) could also be formed alongside anandamide. We have now isolated ARA-S from bovine brain and elucidated its structure by comparison with ... Continue Reading
STUDY: Cardiovascular and respiratory effects of cannabis in cat and rat
ABSTRACT: 1. In anaesthetized rats, intravenous administration of cannabis extract (10 mg/kg), Δ1-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) (0·5 mg/kg) and Δ6-THC (0·5 mg/kg) caused a reduction in systemic blood pressure, pulse rate and respiratory rate. 2. Neither cannabinol (1 mg/kg, i.v.) nor cannabidiol (1 mg/kg, i.v.) had any observed effects on the cardiovascular and respiratory ... Continue Reading
STUDY: Mechanisms involved in oleamide-induced vasorelaxation in rat mesenteric resistance arteries
ABSTRACT: Fatty acid amides are a new class of signaling lipids that have been implicated in diverse physiological and pathological conditions. Oleamide is a fatty acid amide that induces vasorelaxation. Here, we investigated the mechanisms behind the vasorelaxation effect of oleamide in rat mesenteric resistance arteries. Oleamide-induced concentration dependent (0.01 ... Continue Reading