Cannabinoid CB2 receptors mediate the anxiolytic-like effects of monoacylglycerol lipase inhibition on a rat model of predator-induced fear.
Researchers recently identified a signaling pathway in the endocannabinoid system that regulates long-lasting anxiety, a central symptom of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In particular, CB2 - one of the two main endocannabinoid receptors - mediates the response: its activation appears to have an anxiolytic (anxiety reducing) effect while its inhibition an anxiogenic (anxiety inducing) one.
A recent study provides several lines of evidence supporting this conclusion. In this study, male rats were exposed to TMT, a volatile chemical that is innately aversive to rodents, leading to a long-lasting anxiety-like state that captures the features of human PTSD. When a drug that elevates the amount of endocannabinoids in brain tissue and as a result, increases activation of the CB2 receptor, was administered to the rats, the TMT-induced enduring fear behaviors were suppressed. Meanwhile, when a drug that blocks the CB2 receptor and interferes with its function was administered, anxiety symptoms were persistent. In addition, following exposure to TMT, the level of CB2 receptors expressed in rat brains was elevated for a long period of time, suggesting that the brains may cope with fear and anxiety by relying on the endocannabinoid system.
In short, signalling at the endocannabinoid receptor CB2 represents an innate anti-stress mechanism activated by psychological trauma of the brain, and thus can serve as a potential target for drugs treating PTSD.
Navigating a cancer diagnosis is one of the most difficult life challenges a person can face. Two-time cancer survivor and EO spokesperson Ethan Zohn says, “cancer is a disease that touches every part of you as a human being: mental, physical, social, spiritual. You’re always just looking for ways to make yourself feel better.”
Gabapentin and cannabis are two substances frequently used to help manage pain and a range of other health conditions. While gabapentin is primarily used to help treat nerve pain, seizures and shingles-related discomfort, cannabis is well known for its analgesic, anti-inflammatory and relaxation-inducing effects.
A growing body of research illustrates the untapped potential of cannabis for a range of medical uses, like helping to manage pain, stress, sleep and appetite. However, studies also indicate that alternative methods of intake are necessary to create consistent, repeatable effects and to reduce the risks associated with smoking cannabis. According to a scientific review by the Institute of Medicine, “the future of cannabinoid drugs lies not in smoked marijuana but in chemically defined drugs that act on the cannabinoid systems that are a natural component of human physiology.”
Get special offers, event invites and the latest on new care offerings and product releases.
Wise Use for All
© 2024 All rights reserved. Patents pending. EO Care, Inc.
