Microglia, resident macrophages of the brain, function as immune effector and accessory cells. Paradoxically, they not only play a role in host defense and tissue repair but also have been implicated in a variety of neuropathological processes. Microglia, in addition to exhibiting phenotypic markers for macrophages, express CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors. Recent studies suggest the existence...

To fi nd appropriate and effective treatment options for chronic pain syndromes is a challenging task. Multimodal treatment approach has been gaining acceptance for chronic pain. However, combining treatments, such as acupuncture, with rational pharmacology is still in its infancy. Acupuncture infl uences the opioid and cannabinoid system through releasing endogenous receptor ligands. Low dose ...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE A nonpsychoactive constituent of the cannabis plant, cannabidiol has been demonstrated to have low affinity for both cannabinoid CB1 and CB2 receptors. We have shown previously that cannabidiol can enhance electrically evoked contractions of the mouse vas deferens, suggestive of inverse agonism. We have also shown that cannabidiol can antagonize cannabinoid receptor agoni...

Joint pain is a common clinical problem for which both inflammatory and degenerative joint diseases are major causes. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors in the behavioral, histological, and neurochemical alterations associated with joint pain. The murine model of monosodium iodoacetate (MIA) was used to induce joint pain in knockout mice f...

The endocannabinoid system plays an important role in numerous physiological processes and represents a potential drug target for diseases ranging from brain disorders to cancer. Recent preclinical studies implicated endocannabinoids and their receptors in the regulation of bone cell activity and in the pathogenesis of bone loss. Cells and intervening nerves in the skeleton express cannabinoid ...

We report a detailed analysis of the distribution of relevant proteins of the endogenous cannabinoid system in the rat cerebellum (cerebellar cortex and deep cerebellar nuclei) and the two functionally related nuclei, the vestibular nuclei and the inferior olive. These proteins include the two main cannabinoid receptors (CB(1) and CB(2)), the enzymes involved in cannabinoid biosynthesis (DAGL a...

Cannabinoid research has gained remarkable interest in the past ten years after the discoveries of endogenous compounds with cannabimimetic activity and identification of their molecular targets, CB1 and CB2 receptors. Subsequently, attention has focused on putative therapeutic applications of cannabinoids. The non-psychotropic cannabidiol (CBD), some analogues of natural cannabinoids and their...

Objective(s) Several lines of evidence indicate that neuropeptides exhibit protective properties against gastroduodenal ulcers. Neurotensin, a gut-brain neuropeptide, is implicated in a number of physiological processes in the central nervous system and peripheral tissues including gastrointestinal tract. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the gastroprotective potential of either p...

BACKGROUND While cannabinoids have been shown to ameliorate liver fibrosis, their effects in chronic pancreatitis and on pancreatic stellate cells (PSC) are unknown. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS The activity of the endocannabinoid system was evaluated in human chronic pancreatitis (CP) tissues. In vitro, effects of blockade and activation of cannabinoid receptors on pancreatic stellate cell...