title: Endocannabinoid system in sexual motivational processes: Is it a novel therapeutic horizon?
abstract: The endocannabinoid system (ECS), which is composed of the cannabinoid receptors types 1 and 2 (CB1 and CB2) for marijuana's psychoactive ingredient Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), the endogenous ligands (AEA and 2-AG) and the enzymatic systems involved in their biosynthesis and degradation, recently emerged as important modulator of emotional and non-emotional behaviors. For centuries, in addition to its recreational actions, several contradictory claims regarding the effects of Cannabis use in sexual functioning and behavior (e.g. aphrodisiac vs anti-aphrodisiac) of both sexes have been accumulated. The identification of Δ9-THC and later on, the discovery of the ECS have opened a potential therapeutic target for sexual dysfunctions, given the partial efficacy of current pharmacological treatment. In agreement with the bidirectional modulation induced by cannabinoids on several behavioral responses, the endogenous cannabinoid AEA elicited biphasic effects on sexual behavior as well. The present article reviews current available knowledge on herbal, synthetic and endogenous cannabinoids with respect to the modulation of several aspects of sexuality in preclinical and human studies, highlighting their therapeutic potential.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czech Republic; 3rd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Androvicova
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czech Republic; 3rd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Jiri
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Horacek
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Tibor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Stark
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Drago
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy; CEITEC-Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic. Electronic address: vincenzomicale@inwind.it.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Micale
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D063385:Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators / Q000378:metabolism; D002186:Cannabinoids / Q000378:metabolism; D063388:Endocannabinoids / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D043882:Receptors, Cannabinoid / Q000378:metabolism; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D063385:Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators; D002186:Cannabinoids; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D043882:Receptors, Cannabinoid
keywords: Cannabinoid CB1 receptor; Endocannabinoids; Sexual behavior; Δ(9)-THC