Identification and Functional Characterization of Brainstem Cannabinoid CB₂ Receptors

The presence and function of CB₂ receptors in central nervous system (CNS) neurons are controversial. We report the expression of CB₂ receptor messenger RNA and protein localization on brainstem neurons. These functional CB₂ receptors in the brainstem were activated by a CB₂ receptor agonist, 2-arac...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 2005-10, Vol.310 (5746), p.329-332
Main Authors: Van Sickle, Marja D, Duncan, Marnie, Kingsley, Philip J, Mouihate, Abdeslam, Urbani, Paolo, Mackie, Ken, Stella, Nephi, Makriyannis, Alexandros, Piomelli, Daniele, Davison, Joseph S, Marnett, Lawrence J, Di Marzo, Vincenzo, Pittman, Quentin J, Patel, Kamala D, Sharkey, Keith A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agonists
Animals
Arachidonic Acids - pharmacology
Biological and medical sciences
Blotting, Western
Brain stem
Brain Stem - metabolism
Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators - metabolism
Cannabinoids - pharmacology
Central nervous system
Cerebellum
Cerebellum - metabolism
Cerebral Cortex - metabolism
Emetics
Endocannabinoids
Ferrets
Immunohistochemistry
Medical sciences
Mice
Neurons
Neuropharmacology
Pharmacology. Drug treatments
Polyunsaturated Alkamides
Psychodysleptics: hallucinogen
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopharmacology
Rats
Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2 - agonists
Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2 - antagonists & inhibitors
Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2 - metabolism
Receptors
Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
RNA, Messenger - analysis
Spleen
Vomiting
Vomiting - prevention & control
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Description
Summary:The presence and function of CB₂ receptors in central nervous system (CNS) neurons are controversial. We report the expression of CB₂ receptor messenger RNA and protein localization on brainstem neurons. These functional CB₂ receptors in the brainstem were activated by a CB₂ receptor agonist, 2-arachidonoylglycerol, and by elevated endogenous levels of endocannabinoids, which also act at CB₁ receptors. CB₂ receptors represent an alternative site of action of endocannabinoids that opens the possibility of nonpsychotropic therapeutic interventions using enhanced endocannabinoid levels in localized brain areas.
ISSN:0036-8075
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.1115740