The spinal network underlying locomotion in lamprey is composed of excitatory and inhibitory interneurons mediating fast ionotropic action. In addition, several modulator systems are activated as locomotion is initiated, including the tachykinin system and the metabotropic glutamate receptor 1 (mGluR1), the latter operating partially via the endocannabinoid system. The effects of mGluR1 agonist...

Introduction: There is currently a debate over the interaction between Ca2+ channels and cannabinoid system on learning and memory processing. In this study, we examined the effect of acute injection of cannabinoid agonist (Win- 55212-2) (Win) or antagonist (AM251), following chronic injection of verapamil, as a L-type Ca2+ channels blocker, on passive avoidance (PA) test in male Wistar rats...

objective(s): targeting the neuropeptide systems has been shown to be useful for the development of more effective antipsychotic drugs. neurotensin, an endogenous neuropeptide, appears to be involved in the mechanism of action of antipsychotics. however, the available data provide conflicting results and the mechanism(s) by which antipsychotics affect brain neurotensin neurotransmission have no...

The midbrain periaqueductal gray (PAG) is involved in organizing behavioral responses to threat, stress, and pain. These PAG functions are modulated by cholinergic agents. In the present study, we examined the cholinergic modulation of synaptic transmission in the PAG using whole-cell voltage-clamp recordings from rat midbrain slices. We found that the cholinergic agonist carbachol reduced the ...

Glucocorticoids secreted in response to stress activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis feed back onto the brain to rapidly suppress neuroendocrine activation, including oxytocin and vasopressin secretion. Here we show using whole-cell patch clamp recordings that glucocorticoids elicit a rapid, opposing action on synaptic glutamate and -aminobutyric acid (GABA) release onto magnoce...

Orexigenic mediators can impact the hypothalamic feeding circuitry via the activation of AMP-dependent protein kinase (AMPK). Given that testosterone is an orexigenic hormone, we hypothesized that androgenic changes in energy balance are due to enhanced cannabinoid-induced inhibition of anorexigenic proopiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons via activation of AMPK. To this end, whole animal experiments...

PURPOSE Cannabinoids have been reported to mediate changes in vascular resistance through endothelial receptor targets. We examined involvement of the endothelium in cannabinoid-mediated vasoactive responses in resistance arterioles of the retina. METHODS Vascular responses to both intraluminal (IL) and extraluminal (EL) administration of the atypical cannabinoid, abnormal cannabidiol (abn-CB...

Arachidonylethanolamide (AEA or anandamide) is believed to be the endogenous ligand of the cannabinoid CB1 and CB2 receptors. CB1 receptors have been found localized on fibers in the spinal trigeminal tract and spinal trigeminal nucleus caudalis. Known behavioural effects of anandamide are anti-nociception, catalepsy, hypothermia and depression of motor activity, similar to ∆-tetrahydocannanbin...

The endogenous cannabinoid system plays an important role in regulating the immune system. Modulation of endogenous cannabinoids represents an attractive alternative for the treatment of inflammatory disorders. This study investigated the effects of URB597, a selective inhibitor of fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), the enzyme catalysing degradation of the endogenous cannabinoid anandamide, and...