Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the chief psychoactive ingredient of cannabis, acts in the brain primarily via cannabinoid CB1 receptors. These receptors are implicated in several forms of synaptic plasticity - depolarization-induced suppression of excitation (DSE), metabotropic suppression of excitation (MSE), long term depression (LTD) and activation-dependent desensitization. Cultured...
Abstract The Cannabis sativa plant has been used for centuries as a recreational drug and more recently in the treatment of patients with neurological or psychiatric disorders. In many instances, treatment goals include relief from posttraumatic disorders, anxiety, or to support treatment of chronic pain. Ligands acting on cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1R) are also potential targets for the...
Because of the prominent psychoactive effects of cannabis and its preparations, much research has focused on the actions of cannabinoids, the primary psychoactive components of cannabis, on neuronal function. A convergence of research has identified (1) cannabinoid receptors, (2) endogenous compounds that activate these receptors (endocannabinoids), and (3) drugs that interact with these...