title: Blood pressure regulation by endocannabinoids and their receptors.
abstract: Cannabinoids and their endogenous and synthetic analogs exert powerful hypotensive and cardiodepressor effects by complex mechanisms involving direct and indirect effects on myocardium and vasculature. On the one hand, endocannabinoids and cannabinoid receptors have been implicated in the hypotensive state associated with hemorrhagic, endotoxic and cardiogenic shock, and advanced liver cirrhosis. On the other hand, there is emerging evidence suggesting that the endocannabinergic system plays an important role in the cardiovascular regulation in hypertension. This review is aimed to discuss the in vivo hypotensive and cardiodepressant effects of cannabinoids mediated by cannabinoid and TRPV(1) receptors, and focuses on the novel therapeutical strategies offered by targeting the endocannabinoid system in the treatment of hypertension.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Physiologic Studies, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse & Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-8115, USA. pacher@mail.nih.gov
authors.forename: Pál
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pacher
authors.forename: Sándor
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bátkai
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kunos
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D063385:Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators / Q000502:physiology*; D002186:Cannabinoids / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000503:physiopathology; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D007022:Hypotension / Q000503:physiopathology; D043882:Receptors, Cannabinoid / Q000502:physiology*; D050916:TRPV Cation Channels / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D063385:Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators; D002186:Cannabinoids; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D043882:Receptors, Cannabinoid; D050916:TRPV Cation Channels; C494484:TRPV1 receptor