title: Finding of endocannabinoids in human eye tissues: implications for glaucoma.
abstract: Cannabinoid CB(1) receptors are involved in ocular physiology and may regulate intraocular pressure (IOP). However, endocannabinoid levels in human ocular tissues of cornea, iris, ciliary body, retina, and choroid from normal and glaucomatous donors have not been investigated. Anandamide (N-arachidonoylethanolamine; AEA), 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), and the anandamide congener, palmitoylethanolamide (PEA), were detected in all the human tissues examined. In eyes from patients with glaucoma, significantly decreased 2-AG and PEA levels were detected in the ciliary body, an important tissue in the regulation of IOP. The findings suggest that these endogenous compounds may have a role in this disease, particularly with respect to regulation of IOP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Allergan Inc., Irvine, CA, USA. chen_june@allergan.com
authors.forename: June
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Matias
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dinh
authors.forename: Ta
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Venezia
authors.forename: Amelia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nieves
authors.forename: David F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Woodward
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Di Marzo
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000577:Amides; D001095:Arachidonic Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D063385:Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators / Q000378:metabolism*; D002924:Ciliary Body / Q000378:metabolism; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D004983:Ethanolamines; D005123:Eye / Q000378:metabolism*; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000378:metabolism*; D005989:Glycerides / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009928:Organ Specificity; D010169:Palmitic Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides
chemical_list: D000577:Amides; D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D063385:Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D004983:Ethanolamines; D005989:Glycerides; D010169:Palmitic Acids; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides; C005958:palmidrol; C094503:glyceryl 2-arachidonate; C078814:anandamide