title: Synaptamide, endocannabinoid-like derivative of docosahexaenoic acid with cannabinoid-independent function.
abstract: Docosahexaenoylethanolamide, the structural analog of the endogenous cannabinoid receptor ligand anandamide, is synthesized from docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in the brain. Although docosahexaenoylethanolamide binds weakly to cannabinoid receptors, it stimulates neurite growth, synaptogenesis and glutamatergic synaptic activity in developing hippocampal neurons at concentrations of 10-100 nM. We have previously proposed the term synaptamide for docosahexaenoylethanolamide to emphasize its potent synaptogenic activity and structural similarity to anandamide. Synaptamide is subjected to hydrolysis by fatty acid amide hydrolase, and can be oxygenated to bioactive metabolites. The brain synaptamide content is dependent on the dietary DHA intake, suggesting an endogenous mechanism whereby diets containing adequate amounts of omega-3 fatty acids improve synaptogenesis in addition to well-recognized anti-inflammatory effects.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Signaling, DICBR, NIAAA, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892-9410, USA. hykim@nih.gov
authors.forename: Hee-Yong
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Arthur A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Spector
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001095:Arachidonic Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D063386:Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D063387:Cannabinoid Receptor Antagonists / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D002186:Cannabinoids / Q000378:metabolism; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D063388:Endocannabinoids / Q000378:metabolism; D004983:Ethanolamines / Q000378:metabolism; D005973:Glutamine / Q000502:physiology; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D016501:Neurites / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D055495:Neurogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides / Q000378:metabolism; D043882:Receptors, Cannabinoid / Q000378:metabolism; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects; D009626:Terminology as Topic
chemical_list: D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D063386:Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists; D063387:Cannabinoid Receptor Antagonists; D002186:Cannabinoids; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D004983:Ethanolamines; C561061:N-docosahexaenoylethanolamide; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides; D043882:Receptors, Cannabinoid; D005973:Glutamine; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; C078814:anandamide