Premium
Modulatory effects of cannabinoids on brain neurotransmission
Author(s) -
Cohen Koby,
Weizman Abraham,
Weinstein Aviv
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
european journal of neuroscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.346
H-Index - 206
eISSN - 1460-9568
pISSN - 0953-816X
DOI - 10.1111/ejn.14407
Subject(s) - cannabinoid , synthetic cannabinoids , endocannabinoid system , cannabinoid receptor , neuropharmacology , neuroscience , dopamine , pharmacology , cannabis , neurotransmission , medicine , psychology , psychiatry , receptor , agonist
Recreational and chronic cannabis use has been associated with a range of acute and chronic effects including; anti‐nociceptive actions, anxiety, depression, psychotic symptoms and neurocognitive impairments. The mechanisms underlying cannabinoid‐based drugs effects are not fully known but given the neuro‐modulatory functions of the endocannabinoid system, it seems likely that agonistic activity at the cannabinoid type‐1 receptors ( CB 1 ) might modulate the functions of other neurotransmitter systems. The present review has summarized the currently available pre‐clinical and clinical data on the interactions of CB 1 and cannabinoid type‐2 receptors ( CB 2 ) with the central neurotransmitters; dopamine, serotonin, noradrenaline, GABA , glutamate and opioids. Acute and chronic exposures to cannabinoids exert pharmacological alterations in the mammalian brain that have profound implications for our understanding of the neuropharmacology of cannabinoid‐based drugs and their effects on mental health and the brain. A recent emergence uses of cannabis for medical purpose together with legalization and decriminalization of cannabis and increasing use of highly potent synthetic cannabinoids raise a growing concern over the effects of cannabinoids and their interaction with other neurotransmitters on physical and mental health.