title: New insights on endocannabinoid transmission in psychomotor disorders.
abstract: The endocannabinoids are lipid signaling molecules that bind to cannabinoid CB(1) and CB(2) receptors and other metabotropic and ionotropic receptors. Anandamide and 2-arachidonoyl glycerol, the two best-characterized examples, are released on demand in a stimulus-dependent manner by cleavage of membrane phospholipid precursors. Together with their receptors and metabolic enzymes, the endocannabinoids play a key role in modulating neurotransmission and synaptic plasticity in the basal ganglia and other brain areas involved in the control of motor functions and motivational aspects of behavior. This mini-review provides an update on the contribution of the endocannabinoid system to the regulation of psychomotor behaviors and its possible involvement in the pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease and schizophrenia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA. giuffrida@uthscsa.edu
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giuffrida
authors.forename: Alexandre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Seillier
mesh_terms: D001479:Basal Ganglia / Q000378:metabolism*; D063388:Endocannabinoids / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D011596:Psychomotor Disorders / Q000378:metabolism*; D043882:Receptors, Cannabinoid / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology; D050052:TRPC Cation Channels / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D063388:Endocannabinoids; D043882:Receptors, Cannabinoid; D050052:TRPC Cation Channels