title: Rapid generation of 2-arachidonoylglycerol, an endogenous cannabinoid receptor ligand, in rat brain after decapitation.
abstract: Rat brain, frozen in liquid nitrogen immediately after decapitation, contains a substantial amount of 2-arachidonoylglycerol (0.34 nmol/g tissue), an endogenous cannabinoid receptor ligand. The level of 2-arachidonoylglycerol in the brain was rapidly augmented after decapitation, the peak being noted 30 s after decapitation (1.54 nmol/g tissue). Noticeably, there are two phases during the increase in the levels of 2-arachidonoylglycerol: a rapid transient increase and a subsequent gradual sustained increase, suggesting that at least two separate mechanisms are involved in the generation of 2-arachidonoylglycerol in the decapitated brain. Gradual sustained formation was also observed for other monoacylglycerols, (e.g. 2-palmitoylglycerol plus 2-oleoylglycerol and 2-cis-vaccenoylglycerol). Thus, it is important to minimize post-mortem changes to estimate the exact tissue levels of 2-arachidonoylglycerol as well as other monoacylglycerols in the brain.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Teikyo University, Sagamiko, Tsukui-gun, 199-0195, Kanagawa, Japan. sugiurat@pharm.teikyo-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sugiura
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yoshinaga
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Waku
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D005989:Glycerides / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism; D008024:Ligands; D008297:Male; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D043882:Receptors, Cannabinoid; D011955:Receptors, Drug / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D005989:Glycerides; D008024:Ligands; D043882:Receptors, Cannabinoid; D011955:Receptors, Drug; C094503:glyceryl 2-arachidonate