The "dark side" of endocannabinoids: A neurotoxic role for anandamide
Date
2004
Authors
Cernak, I.
Vink, R.
Natale, J.
Stoica, B.
Lea, P.
Movesesyan, V.
Ahmed, F.
Knoblach, S.
Fricke, S.
Faden, A.
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Journal Title
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Journal article
Citation
Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism, 2004; 24(5):564-578
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Ibolja Cernak, Robert Vink, JoAnne Natale, Bogdan Stoica, Paul M Lea IV, Vilen Movsesyan, Farid Ahmed, Susan M Knoblach, Stanley T Fricke and Alan I Faden
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Abstract
Endocannabinoids, including 2-arachidonoylglycerol and anandamide (N-arachidonoylethanolamine; AEA), have neuroprotective effects in the brain through actions at CB1 receptors. However, AEA also binds to vanilloid (VR1) receptors and induces cell death in several cell lines. Here we show that anandamide causes neuronal cell death in vitro and exacerbates cell loss caused by stretch-induced axonal injury or trophic withdrawal in rat primary neuronal cultures. Administered intracerebroventricularly, AEA causes sustained cerebral edema, as reflected by diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging, regional cell loss, and impairment in long-term cognitive function. These effects are mediated, in part, through VR1 as well as through calpain-dependent mechanisms, but not through CB1 receptors or caspases. Central administration of AEA also significantly upregulates genes involved in pro-inflammatory/microglial-related responses. Thus, anandamide produces neurotoxic effects both in vitro and in vivo through multiple mechanisms independent of the CB1 receptor.
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© 2004 International Society for Cerebral Blood Flow & Metabolism