Endocannabinoids Flashcards
What is the endocannabinoid system?
The ECS is found throughought the entire body and includes the brain the nervous system. It is a network comprised of cannabinoid receptors.
What is the ECS responsible for?
Responsible for regulating sleep, apetite, hunger, pain response, stress relief, coordination, mood, maintenance of homeostasis/natural balance.
What species cotain the ECS?
Vertebraes
What are the three components of the ECS?
-Cannabinoid receptors
-Endocannabinoids
-Metabolic Enzymes
Where are cannabinoid receptors found?
The surface of cells.
What are endocannibinoids?
Natural cannibinoids found in the body, they are small molecules that activate canninbinoid receptors.
What are metabolic enzymes?
They break down endocannabinoids after they are used.
What are the names of the two major endengous messengers that bind to cannabinoid receptors?
-2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG)
-anadamide (arachidonoylethanolamine or AEA)
What is anadamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol classified as?
Eicosanoids
Where are the two eicosanoids formed?
By the action of phospholipases on plasma membrane phospholipids.
When are the eicosanoids synthesized?
On demand. They are synthesized when needed.
What is anandamide known as?
The Bliss Molecule
Who and when identified anadamide?
In 1992 by Raphael Mechoulam
What does anadamide have an impact on?
Working memory and early stage embryo development
When and who discovered 2-arachidonylglycerol?
1994-1995 by Raphael Mechoulam and his student, Shimon Ben-Shabat
Where is 2-AG highly present?
In the CNS (Central Nervous System)
What bodily fluid is 2-AG and anandamide present in?
Maternal milk
What are the two cannabinoid receptors?
CB1 and CB2
Define CB1
Concentrated in the brain and the central nervous system. Helps maintain core functions like motor activity, pain, perception, stress response, and memory
Define CB2
Distributed throughout peripheral organs in the body serving the immune, muscular and cardiovascular systems
What are the two major metabolic enzymes?
Fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) and Monoacylglycerol
Which metabolic enzyme breaks down anandamide?
Fatty acid amide hydrolase
Which metabolic enzyme breaks down 2-AG?
Monoacylglycerol
What does the “Pro-homeostatic action of the ECS” mean?
This system of chemical signals gets temporarily activated following deviations from cellular homeostasis.
What are brain cells known as?
Neurons
How do neurons communicate?
By electrochemical signals.
What happens when there is an overload of signals?
Endocannabinoids are released by the overloaded neuron
What is the actual process during the overload of signals?
Endocannabinoids travel back to the overactive neuron and bind to CB1 receptors transmitting a signal that “quiets down” the neuron
What is a retrograde messenger?
A chemical substance that is released from postsynaptic neurons and acts on presynaptic neurons
In the sense of retrograde messengers, what are 2-AG and anandamide?
Retrograde inhibitors. They diffuse backwards to the presynaptic cell where they inhibit transmitter (CB1) or cytokine (CB2) release
