2-Arachidonoylglycerol, an endogenous cannabinoid receptor agonist, in various rat tissues during the evolution of experimental cholestatic liver disease.
OBJECTIVE
Changes in tissue levels of 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), an endocannabinoid, during the evolution of bile duct ligation (BDL) may indicate that endocannabinoids have a role in the hemodynamic changes that occur in this condition.


METHODS
2-AG levels, in various organs and vascular beds of BDL rats, 2 and 4 weeks post surgery, were determined. Untouched and sham-operated (SO) rats were used as controls.


RESULTS
2-AG content of a specific organ was not a static finding and depended on the rat's age, the time from the surgical procedure and the type of procedure. The most pronounced changes were observed in BDL rats 4 weeks post surgery. In these rats, hepatic, pulmonary, cardiac and renal medullary and papillary 2-AG levels were highest observed. No changes in splenic, aortic and renal cortical 2-AG levels were observed. In addition a stepwise increase in 2-AG levels from the cortex to the papilla was detected and was followed by a decrease in creatinine clearance.


CONCLUSIONS
2-AG probably has a role in the pathophysiologic changes in the liver, heart, lung and kidney that follows BDL.
Avraham
Yosefa
Y
Department of Human Nutrition and Metabolism, Braun School of Public Health, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel.
Magen
Iddo
I
Zolotarev
Olga
O
Vorobiav
Lia
L
Nachmias
Avital
A
Pappo
Orit
O
Ilan
Yaron
Y
Berry
Elliot M
EM
Ackerman
Zvi
Z
D000818:Animals; D001095:Arachidonic Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D001158:Arteries / Q000378:metabolism; D001652:Bile Ducts / Q000601:surgery; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D063386:Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists; D002780:Cholestasis, Intrahepatic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018450:Disease Progression; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D005989:Glycerides / Q000378:metabolism*; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism; D008026:Ligation; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism; D009929:Organ Size; D009928:Organ Specificity; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013154:Spleen / Q000378:metabolism
D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D063386:Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D005989:Glycerides; C094503:glyceryl 2-arachidonate