title: Identification and functional characterization of brainstem cannabinoid CB2 receptors.
abstract: The presence and function of CB2 receptors in central nervous system (CNS) neurons are controversial. We report the expression of CB2 receptor messenger RNA and protein localization on brainstem neurons. These functional CB2 receptors in the brainstem were activated by a CB2 receptor agonist, 2-arachidonoylglycerol, and by elevated endogenous levels of endocannabinoids, which also act at CB1 receptors. CB2 receptors represent an alternative site of action of endocannabinoids that opens the possibility of nonpsychotropic therapeutic interventions using enhanced endocannabinoid levels in localized brain areas.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Infection, Immunity, and Inflammation and Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada T2N 4N1.
authors.forename: Marja D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Van Sickle
authors.forename: Marnie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Duncan
authors.forename: Philip J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Kingsley
authors.forename: Abdeslam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mouihate
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Urbani
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mackie
authors.forename: Nephi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Stella
authors.forename: Alexandros
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Makriyannis
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Piomelli
authors.forename: Joseph S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Davison
authors.forename: Lawrence J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Marnett
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Di Marzo
authors.forename: Quentin J
authors.initials: QJ
authors.lastname: Pittman
authors.forename: Kamala D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Keith A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Sharkey
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001095:Arachidonic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000378:metabolism*; D063385:Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators / Q000378:metabolism; D002186:Cannabinoids / Q000494:pharmacology; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000378:metabolism; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000378:metabolism; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D005289:Ferrets; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D051379:Mice; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D043885:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2 / Q000819:agonists / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014839:Vomiting / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D063385:Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators; D002186:Cannabinoids; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D043885:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2; C078814:anandamide