Intense exercise increases circulating endocannabinoid and BDNF levels in humans–possible implications for reward and depression.

“The endocannabinoid system is known to have positive effects on depression partly through its actions on neurotrophins, such as Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF). As BDNF is also considered the major candidate molecule for exercise-induced brain plasticity, we hypothesized that the endocannabinoid system represents a crucial signaling system mediating the beneficial antidepressant effects of exercise…

These findings provide evidence in humans that acute exercise represents a physiological stressor able to increase peripheral levels of AEA and that BDNF might be a mechanism by which AEA influences the neuroplastic and antidepressant effects of exercise.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22029953

“Neuroplasticity – exercise-induced response of peripheral brain-derived neurotrophic factor: a systematic review of experimental studies in human subjects. Exercise is known to induce a cascade of molecular and cellular processes that support brain plasticity. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is an essential neurotrophin that is also intimately connected with central and peripheral molecular processes of energy metabolism and homeostasis, and could play a crucial role in these induced mechanisms… We can only speculate which central regions and peripheral sources in particular circulating BDNF originates from,…” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20726622

“Preliminary evidence of cannabinoid effects on brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels in humans… cannabinoids modulate brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)… Delta(9)-THC increased serum BDNF levels…” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18807247

“Antidepressant-like effects of Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol…” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22634064

“Antidepressant-like effects of cannabidiol… CBD treatment did not change hippocampal BDNF levels… CBD induces antidepressant-like effects…” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20002102

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