Category Archives: Uncategorized

Defective Adult Neurogenesis in CB1 Cannabinoid Receptor Knockout Mice

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Fig. 1.

“…endogenous cannabinoid signaling mechanisms may represent a key component of cell-survival programs mobilized in the injured brain.

In addition to their neuroprotective effects, cannabinergic systems may also have an important role in brain development…

…expression of endocannabinoids and cannabinoid receptors in brain…

Neurogenesis, or the birth of new neurons, continues to occur beyond development and into adulthood, and several lines of evidence suggest that cannabinoid signaling may be involved in this process as well…

In addition to the well known effects of growth factors, a variety of drugs has been shown to influence adult neurogenesis. These include excitatory amino acid receptor antagonists, antidepressants, lithium, nitric oxide donors, phosphodiesterase inhibitors, and statins.

Together with the finding that neurogenesis can be regulated by cannabinoids, these observations imply that a broad range of pharmacological approaches may exist through which to modify neurogenesis for therapeutic purposes.”

http://molpharm.aspetjournals.org/content/66/2/204.full

Marijuana May Grow Neurons in the Brain

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Medpage Today

“Advocates for medical marijuana can take heart over the findings of two Canadian research teams.

A synthetic cannabinoid — similar to the compounds found in marijuana, but substantially stronger — causes the growth of new neurons and reduces anxiety and depression, investigators at the University of Saskatchewan here reported.

And researchers at the University of Calgary said they’ve found evidence that the brain contains so-called CB2 cannabinoid receptors, previously seen in immune tissue but thought not to exist in brain tissue. The discovery, they added, could lead to new drugs to treat nausea associated with cancer or AIDS.

Most so-called drugs of abuse — such as alcohol or cocaine — inhibit the growth of new neurons, according to Xia Zhang, M.D., Ph.D., of the University of Saskatchewan.

“Only marijuana promotes neurogenesis,” Dr. Zhang said.”

http://www.medpagetoday.com/Psychiatry/AnxietyStress/1934

“Cannabinoids promote embryonic and adult hippocampus neurogenesis and produce anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like effects… In summary, since adult hippocampal neurogenesis is suppressed following chronic administration of opiates, alcohol, nicotine, and cocaine, the present study suggests that cannabinoids are the only illicit drug that can promote adult hippocampal neurogenesis following chronic administration.”  http://www.jci.org/articles/view/25509

University Of Saskatchewan Research Suggests Marijuana Analogue Stimulates Brain Cell Growth

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ScienceDaily: Your source for the latest research news

“A synthetic substance similar to ones found in marijuana stimulates cell growth in regions of the brain associated with anxiety and depression, pointing the way for new treatments for these diseases, according to University of Saskatchewan medical research published today in The Journal of Clinical Investigation.

Xia Zhang, an associate professor in the U of S neuropsychiatry research unit, led the team that tested the effects of HU-210, a potent synthetic cannabinoid similar to a group of compounds found in marijuana. The synthetic version is about 100 times as powerful as THC, the compound responsible for the high experienced by recreational users.

The team found that rats treated with HU-210 on a regular basis showed neurogenesis – the growth of new brain cells in the hippocampus. This region of the brain is associated with learning and memory, as well as anxiety and depression.

The effect is the opposite of most legal and illicit drugs such as alcohol, nicotine, heroin, and cocaine.

“Most ‘drugs of abuse’ suppress neurogenesis,” Zhang says. “Only marijuana promotes neurogenesis.””

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/10/051016083817.htm

“Cannabinoids promote embryonic and adult hippocampus neurogenesis and produce anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like effects… In summary, since adult hippocampal neurogenesis is suppressed following chronic administration of opiates, alcohol, nicotine, and cocaine, the present study suggests that cannabinoids are the only illicit drug that can promote adult hippocampal neurogenesis following chronic administration.”  http://www.jci.org/articles/view/25509

Ligand Activation of Cannabinoid Receptors Attenuates Hypertrophy of Neonatal Rat Cardiomyocytes.

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“Endocannabinoids are bioactive amides, esters and ethers of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. Evidence suggests that activation of the endocannabinoid pathway offers cardioprotection against myocardial ischemia, arrhythmias, and endothelial dysfunction of coronary arteries.

…may represent a novel therapeutic approach to cardioprotection.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24979612

Cannabinoid as a neuroprotective strategy in perinatal hypoxic-ischemic injury.

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“Perinatal hypoxia-ischemia remains the single most important cause of brain injury in the newborn, leading to death or lifelong sequelae.

Because of the fact that there is still no specific treatment for perinatal brain lesions due to the complexity of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic pathophysiology, the search of new neuroprotective therapies is of great interest.

In this regard, therapeutic possibilities of the endocannabinoid system have grown lately.

The endocannabinoid system modulates a wide range of physiological processes in mammals and has demonstrated neuroprotective effects in different paradigms of acute brain injury, acting as a natural neuroprotectant.

Concerning perinatal asphyxia, the neuroprotective role of this endogenous system is emerging these years.

The present review mainly focused on the current knowledge of the cannabinoids as a new neuroprotective strategy against perinatal hypoxic-ischemic brain injury.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21788999

[The cannabinoid system and its importance in the perinatal period].

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“The cannabinoid system has been recently described, including the endogenous ligands, mainly arachidonic acid derivatives, and their specific receptors. Endocannabinoids are involved in the modulation of synaptic transmission, through which they exert their psychoactive, motor and antinociceptive effects, among others; they also exert extraneural effects, mainly immunomodulation and vasodilation.

Recent data suggest that the cannabinoid system might play an important role in human ontogeny and could participate in the implantation and early development of the embryo, in fetal brain development, and in the beginning of breast feeding after birth.

In addition, the vasodilatory effect of cannabinoids, together with inhibition of the release of excitotoxic amino acids and cytokines, as well as modulation of oxidative stress and the toxic production of nitric oxide, justify the growing evidence pointing to a possible neuroprotective effect of cannabinoids in perinatal asphyxia.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16266619

Common weed helps treat herpes, study finds

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herpes

“Tansy, a flowering plant that has long been used as a folk remedy to treat fevers, rheumatism, and other conditions, may now have another known health benefit. According to a recent study published in the journal Phytotherapy Research, antiviral compounds naturally present in tansy show effectiveness in treating the herpes virus.”

http://www.naturalnews.com/031510_weed_herpes.html

A Vapourized Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) Delivery System Part II: Comparison of Behavioural Effects of Pulmonary Versus Parenteral Cannabinoid Exposure in Rodents.

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“These results suggest vapourized Δ9-THC administration produces behavioural effects qualitatively different from those induced by IP administration in rodents. Furthermore, vapourized Δ9-THC delivery in rodents may produce behavioural effects more comparable to those observed in humans. We conclude that some of the conflicting findings in animal and human cannabinoid studies may be related to pharmacokinetic differences associated with route of administration.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24956154

The endocannabinoid system modulates stress, emotionality, and inflammation.

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“The physiological and behavioral effects of stress are well characterized.

Endocannabinoids are produced on demand and function to attenuate many of the physiological effects of the stress response.

The endocannabinoid system is made up of cannabinoid receptors, the fatty acid signaling molecules that bind to and activate these receptors, and the enzymes that synthesize and catabolize these endocannabinoid signaling molecules.

Cannabinoid research has recently grown substantially, due in no small part to the development of genetic research models as well as highly selective pharmaceutical tools.

The purpose of this minireview is to discuss a subset of the many parallels between cannabinoid and behavioral neuroimmunology research, with specific discussion of interactions between the endocannabinoid system and psychological stress, emotionality, and inflammation.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24953427

Antagonism of cannabinoid receptor 2 pathway suppresses IL-6-induced immunoglobulin IgM secretion.

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“Cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2) is expressed predominantly in the immune system, particularly in plasma cells, raising the possibility that targeting the CB2 pathway could yield an immunomodulatory effect.

Although the role of CB2 in mediating immunoglobulin class switching has been reported, the effects of targeting the CB2 pathway on immunoglobulin secretion per se remain unclear…

These results uncover a novel function of CB2 antagonists and suggest that CB2 ligands may be potential modulators of immunoglobulin secretion.”