title: Endogenous cannabinoids: a new system involved in the homeostasis of arterial pressure in experimental cirrhosis in the rat.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Recent studies have described the existence of endogenous cannabinoids with vasodilator activity because of their interaction with peripheral CB1 receptors, anandamide being the most extensively investigated. The study investigated whether endogenous cannabinoids are involved in the pathogenesis of the cardiovascular disturbances in experimental cirrhosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Arterial pressure, cardiac output, and total peripheral resistance were measured before and after the administration of a cannabinoid CB1 receptor antagonist to cirrhotic rats with ascites and to control rats. Blood pressure was also assessed in normotensive recipient rats after the intravenous administration of blood cells or isolated monocytes obtained from cirrhotic and control rats. Moreover, the endogenous content of anandamide was measured in circulating monocytes of cirrhotic and control rats by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CB1 receptor blockade did not modify systemic hemodynamics in control rats, but significantly increased arterial pressure and peripheral resistance in cirrhotic animals. Blood cell suspension or monocytes from cirrhotic animals, but not from controls, induced arterial hypotension in recipient rats. Finally, anandamide was solely detected in monocytes of cirrhotic animals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Monocytes of cirrhotic rats with ascites are activated to produce anandamide and this substance contributes to arterial hypotension in experimental cirrhosis.
authors.affiliation: Hormonal Laboratory, Hospital Clínic Universitari, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Josefa
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ros
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Clària
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: To-Figueras
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Planagumà
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cejudo-Martín
authors.forename: Guillermo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fernández-Varo
authors.forename: Raúl
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Martín-Ruiz
authors.forename: Vicente
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Arroyo
authors.forename: Francisca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rivera
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rodés
authors.forename: Wladmiro
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jiménez
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001095:Arachidonic Acids / Q000032:analysis; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002186:Cannabinoids / Q000378:metabolism*; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000502:physiology*; D008106:Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009000:Monocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000637:transplantation; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000494:pharmacology; D010880:Piperidines / Q000494:pharmacology; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D043882:Receptors, Cannabinoid; D011955:Receptors, Drug / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D000077285:Rimonabant; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D002186:Cannabinoids; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D010880:Piperidines; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides; D011720:Pyrazoles; D043882:Receptors, Cannabinoid; D011955:Receptors, Drug; D000077285:Rimonabant; C078814:anandamide; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester