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Endocannabinoids, a novel target in pain treatment
Author(s) -
Azad S. C.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of neurochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.75
H-Index - 229
eISSN - 1471-4159
pISSN - 0022-3042
DOI - 10.1046/j.1471-4159.85.s2.12_3.x
Subject(s) - endocannabinoid system , neuroscience , cannabinoid receptor , amygdala , basolateral amygdala , cannabinoid , fear processing in the brain , neurotransmission , psychology , synaptic plasticity , fear conditioning , medicine , receptor , agonist
Cannabinoids display a variety of central effects including analgesia, control of spasticity and influence of emotional states. Activation of the brain‐type cannabinoid receptor CB1 inhibits the adenylyl cyclase‐protein kinase A‐pathway and modulates calcium and potassium conductances. CB1 is widely distributed throughout the central nervous system. Among other brain regions, CB1 is highly expressed in the amygdala, which is important for the control of emotional behavior including anxiety and pain perception. In a recent investigation using auditory fear‐conditioning tests, we showed that the endogenous cannabinoid system in the amygdala is crucially involved in the extinction of aversive memories. Using electrophysiological techniques, we also found that endogenous and exogenously applied cannabinoids play a major role in the modulation of both, synaptic transmission and plasticity in this brain region. Our behavioral and electrophysiological results indicate that the endogenous cannabinoid system may represent a novel target in the treatment of chronic pain.