Cannabis and alcohol--a close friendship.
Cannabinoids and alcohol activate the same reward pathways, and the cannabinoid CB(1) receptor system plays an important role in regulating the positive reinforcing properties of alcohol. Indeed, both cannabinoids and alcohol cause the release of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens. Recent research suggests that ethanol preference, which is dependent on CB(1) receptors, is higher in young mice than in old mice, and higher in female mice than in male mice.
Mechoulam
Raphael
R
Hebrew University Medical Faculty, Pharmacy School Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Natural Products, Jerusalem 91120, Israel. Mechou@cc.huji.ac.il
Parker
Linda
L
D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000378:metabolism / Q000523:psychology; D000818:Animals; D063385:Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators; D002186:Cannabinoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000378:metabolism; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D043882:Receptors, Cannabinoid; D011955:Receptors, Drug / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D012201:Reward; D012737:Sex Factors
D063385:Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators; D002186:Cannabinoids; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D043882:Receptors, Cannabinoid; D011955:Receptors, Drug; D000431:Ethanol