Lec12: Cannabinoids

Question 1

Name 5 drugs which operate in the CNS.

Answer 1

1. Amphetamines
2. Alcohols
3. Cocaine
4. Cannabinoids
5. Caffeine

Question 2

What does cocaine do?

Answer 2

blocks DA transporters.

Question 3

What receptor do amphetamines bind to?

Answer 3

TAAR-1

Question 4

What receptors do cannabis bind do?

Answer 4

CB-2 and CB-1

Question 5

What is the function of caffeine?

Answer 5

Adenosine R antagonist.

Question 6

What receptors do alcohols bind to?

Answer 6

NMDAR and GABAR.

Question 7

Name two types of drugs that are small, and why this makes them useful for targeting brain.

Answer 7

Paracetamols and NSAIDs are small, and therefore can enter the brain fast (aren’t excluded, like large molecules).

Question 8

In rodents, the CB2 receptor is an anti-inflimmatory target. What are the two effects of targeting it with drugs?

Answer 8

1. Decrease leukocyte migration into inflamed neural tissue

2. Increase protectiveness of BBB

Question 9

CB-1 and CB-2 are the two main cannaboids. Where is each found?

Answer 9

1. CB-1 = CNS neurotransmission

2. CB-2 = Immune cell target (on leukocytes)

Question 10

What are the three major endocannabinoid ligands?

Answer 10

2AG, Anandamide, THC

Question 11

What is THC derived from?

Answer 11

A plant.

Question 12

What is the most abundantly expressed receptor in the CNS, and where are they found mostly?

Answer 12

CB-1R, found in synapses.

Question 13

Is CB-2 present in a healthy CNS?

Answer 13

No.

Question 14

When a brain lesion occurs:

1. What happens to lesioned immune cells?
2. What happens to relevant blood vessels?

Answer 14

1. Lesioned immune cells express lots of CB-2

2. Relevant blood vessels become large and inflamed, which is very dangerous