Effect of the brain constituent anandamide, a cannabinoid receptor agonist, on the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis in the rat.
Anandamide (arachidonylethanolamide), an endogenous ligand of the cannabinoid receptor, was recently isolated from porcine brain. We report here for the first time on the effect of this ligand on the hypothalamo-pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis in comparison to that of the plant cannabinoid delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Intracerebroventricular injection of anandamide or THC (50 or 150 micrograms/rat) increased significantly the serum levels of ACTH and corticosterone in a dose-dependent manner and caused a pronounced depletion of CRF-41 in the median eminence. These data suggest that anandamide parallels THC in activating the HPA axis via mediation of a central mechanism which involves the secretion of CRF-41.
Weidenfeld
J
J
Department of Neurology, Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel.
Feldman
S
S
Mechoulam
R
R
D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood; D000577:Amides / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000494:pharmacology; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D008473:Median Eminence / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides; D051381:Rats; D043882:Receptors, Cannabinoid; D011955:Receptors, Drug / Q000378:metabolism*; D013552:Swine
D000577:Amides; D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides; D043882:Receptors, Cannabinoid; D011955:Receptors, Drug; D013759:Dronabinol; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; C078814:anandamide; D003345:Corticosterone