The present study aimed to investigate whether cannabinoids could modulate the response mediated by ATP receptor (P2X purinoceptor). Whole-cell patch-clamp recording was performed on cultured rat trigeminal ganglionic (TG) neurons. The majority of TG neurons were sensitive to ATP (67/75, 89.33%). Extracellular pretreatment with WIN55212-2, a cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1 receptor) agonist, reduce...

Recently, the cannabinoid (CB) receptor agonist anandamide (AEA) has been shown to excite perivascular terminals of primary sensory neurons via activation of the vanilloid receptor-1 (VR-1). To determine whether AEA stimulates central terminals of these neurons, via VR-1 activation, we studied the release of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)- and substance P (SP)-like immunoreactivities (L...

Increasing evidence focuses on acetaldehyde (ACD) as the mediator of the rewarding and motivational properties of ethanol. Indeed, ACD stimulates dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens and it is self-administered under different conditions. Besides the dopaminergic transmission, the endocannabinoid system has been reported to play an important role in ethanol central effects, modulating prim...

We recently showed that the peripheral cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CNR1) gene is upregulated by the synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone. CNR1 is highly expressed in the central nervous system and has been a drug target for the treatment of obesity. Here we explore the role of peripheral CNR1 in states of insulin resistance in human adipose tissue. Subcutaneous adipose tissue was obtained fr...

Acetaldehyde (ACD), the first alcohol metabolite, plays a pivotal role in the rewarding, motivational, and addictive properties of the parental compound. Many studies have investigated the role of ACD in mediating neurochemical and behavioral effects induced by alcohol administration, but very little is known about the modulation of neuropeptide systems following ACD intoxication and withdrawal...

This study aimed to investigate the function of the cannabinoid receptor in the neuromuscular junction of the frog (Rana pipiens). Miniature end-plate potentials were recorded using the intracellular electrode recording technique in the cutaneous pectoris muscle in the presence of the cannabinoid agonists WIN55212-2 (WIN; R-(+)-[2,3-dihydro-5-methyl-3-[(morpholinyl)]-pyrolol[1,2,3de]-1,4-benzox...

The omega-3 fatty acid ethanolamides, docosahexaenoyl ethanolamide (DHEA) and eicosapentaenoyl ethanolamide (EPEA), displayed greater anti-proliferative potency than their parent omega-3 fatty acids, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), in LNCaP and PC3 prostate cancer cells. DHEA and EPEA activated cannabinoid CB(1) and CB(2) receptors in vitro with significant potency, ...

BACKGROUND Inducible or neuronal nitric oxide synthase gene deletion increases or decreases anxiety-like behavior in mice, respectively. Since nitric oxide and endocannabinoids interact to modulate defensive behavior, the former effect could involve a compensatory increase in basal brain nitric oxide synthase activity and/or changes in the endocannabinoid system. Thus, we investigated the expre...