inflammation serves a protective function in controlling infections and promoting tissue repair, and can also cause damage to tissue and disease. many types of cells involved in this process, expressing the components of the cannabinoid signaling system that can be controlled endogenously or pharmacologically. cannabinoids inhibit neuroinflammation and the immune cells express the whole machine...

BACKGROUND While cannabinoid receptor agonists have analgesic activity in inflammatory pain states they produce a range of side effects. Recently, it has been demonstrated that the arachidonic acid-amino acid conjugate, N-arachidonyl-glycine (NA-glycine) is effective in acute pain models. RESULTS In the present study we examined the effect of NA-glycine in a rat model of inflammatory pain. In...

Cannabinoid effects on sustained conductances that control neuronal excitability have not been investigated in brain. Here, intracellular voltage-clamp recordings were performed using the rat hippocampal slice preparation to study the postsynaptic effect of cannabinoid agonists on CA1 pyramidal neurons. Superfusion of the cannabimimetics WIN55212-2 or methanandamide onto CA1 neurons elicited an...

The effects of the active ingredient of Cannabis, Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta9-THC), and of the highly addictive drug heroin on in vivo dopamine transmission in the nucleus accumbens were compared in Sprague-Dawley rats by brain microdialysis. Delta9-THC and heroin increased extracellular dopamine concentrations selectively in the shell of the nucleus accumbens; these effects were mimick...

Electroacupuncture (EA) has been used to suppress heroin craving in addicts and the conditioned place preference (CPP) for morphine in the rat. The question remained whether EA by itself will produce some rewarding effect. This was investigated using the CPP procedure in the present study. The results indicated that rats showed a significant preference to the 2 Hz EA-paired compartment. This re...

The identification of peripherally expressed CB2 receptors and reports that the selective activation of cannabinoid CB2 receptors produces antinociception without traditional cannabinergic side effects suggests that selective cannabinoid CB2 receptor agonists might be useful in the management of pain. In a rat hindpaw incision model, we examined the antiallodynic activity of the selective canna...

1 Marijuana's appetite-increasing effects have long been known. Recent research suggests that the CB(1) cannabinoid receptor antagonist SR141716A may suppress appetite. This study represents a further, systematic investigation of the role of CB(1) cannabinoid receptors in the pharmacological effects of cannabinoids on food intake. 2 Mice were food-restricted for 24 h and then allowed access to ...

Cannabinoid agonists impair hippocampus-dependent learning and memory. Using mouse hippocampal slice preparations, we examined the effect of anandamide, an endogenous cannabinoid, on sharp wave-ripple (SW-R) complexes, which are believed to mediate memory consolidation during slow-wave sleep or behavioral immobility. Anandamide reduced the frequency of SW-Rs recorded from the CA3 region, and th...

Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) has been implicated in the mediation of the stress-like and negative affective consequences of withdrawal from drugs of abuse, such as alcohol, cocaine, and opiates. This study sought to determine whether brain CRF systems also have a role in cannabinoid dependence. Rats were treated daily for 2 weeks with the potent synthetic cannabinoid HU-210. Withdrawal,...