Fabrício A Moreira

• Professor (Assistant) at Federal University of Minas Gerais

Minocycline is a tetracycline antibiotic with off-label use as an anti-inflammatory drug. Because it can cross the blood-brain barrier, minocycline has been proposed as an alternative treatment for psychiatric disorders, in which inflammation plays an important role. However, its beneficial effects on anxiety disorders are unclear. Therefore, we pe...

Objective The transient receptor potential cation channel, subfamily V (vanilloid), member 1 (TRPV1) mediates pain perception to thermal and chemical stimuli in peripheral neurons. The cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB 1 ), on the other hand, promotes analgesia in both the periphery and the brain. TRPV1 and CB 1 have also been implicated in learned f...

Objective Preclinical studies suggest that cannabidiol (CBD), a non-intoxicating phytocannabinoid, may reduce addiction-related behaviors for various drug classes in rodents, including ethanol, opiates, and psychostimulants. CBD modulates contextual memories and responses to reward stimuli. Nonetheless, research on the impact of CBD on cocaine addi...

Background There is a growing literature on the potential medical uses of Cannabis sativa and cannabinoid compounds. Although these have only been approved by regulatory agencies for a few indications, there is a hype about their possible benefits in a variety of conditions and a large market in the wellness industry. As in many cases patients sear...

Objective the aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that synthesis of nitric oxide (NO) and activation of CB1 receptors have opposite effects in a behavioural animal model of panic and anxiety. Methods to test the hypothesis male Wistar rats were exposed to the elevated T maze (ETM) model under the following treatments: L-Arginine (L-Arg) w...

Panic disorder can be categorized into the nonrespiratory or the respiratory subtypes, the latter comprising dyspnea, shortness of breath, chest pain, feelings of suffocation, and paresthesias. Doxapram is an analeptic capable of inducing panic attacks with respiratory symptoms in individuals diagnosed with the disorder; however, its neuroanatomica...

The basolateral amygdala (BLA) is critical in the control of the sympathetic output during stress. Studies demonstrated the involvement of the renin-angiotensin system components in the BLA. Angiotensin-(1–7) [Ang-(1–7)], acting through Mas receptors, reduces stress effects. Considering that angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is the principal e...

Growing evidence suggests a role for brain-gut-microbiota axis in affective disorders including major depression and bipolar disorder (BD). Herein, we aim to explore, by employing germ-free (GF) mice, the effect of the indigenous microbiota in the development of mania-like behavior. Conventional and GF mice were evaluated for the hyperlocomotion in...

The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (PKB/Akt)/mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway has been associated with several pathologies in the central nervous system (CNS), including epilepsy. There is evidence supporting the hypothesis that the PI3Kγ signaling pathway may mediate the powerful anticonvulsant proper...

There is a growing literature on the potential medical uses of Cannabis sativa and cannabinoid compounds. Although these have only been approved by regulatory agencies for few indications, there is a hype about their possible benefits in a variety of conditions and a large market in the wellness industry. As in many cases patients search for inform...

Rationale Cocaine is a psychostimulant drug that facilitates monoaminergic neurotransmission. The endocannabinoid system, comprising the cannabinoid receptors (CB1R and CB2R), the endocannabinoids, and their metabolizing-enzymes, modulates the mesolimbic dopaminergic pathway and represents a potential target for the treatment of addiction. Objecti...

This review focuses on the possible roles of phytocannabinoids, synthetic cannabinoids, endocannabinoids, and “transient receptor potential cation channel, subfamily V, member 1” (TRPV1) channel blockers in epilepsy treatment. The phytocannabinoids are compounds produced by the herb Cannabis sativa, from which Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ⁹-THC) is th...

Recurrent panic attacks, comprising emotional and cardiovascular aversive responses, are common features in panic disorder, a subtype of anxiety disorder. The underlying brain circuitry includes nuclei of the hypothalamus, such as the dorsomedial hypothalamus (DMH). The endocannabinoid system has been proposed to modulate several biological process...

Antidepressants and anxiolytics are used to treat anxiety disorders, such as generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder. The endocannabinoid system is involved in the modulation of emotions related to panic and anxiety. Facilitation of CB1 receptor signaling induces anxiolytic and panicolytic effects in animal models. In this study, we tested...

Altered endocannabinoid (eCB) signalling is suggested as an important contributor to the pathophysiology of depression. To further elucidate this, we conducted a study using a genetic rat model of depression, the Flinders Sensitive Line (FSL), and their controls, the Flinders Resistant Line (FRL) rats. Plasma, right and left prefrontal cortex, and...

Background and Purpose The endocannabinoids anandamide and 2‐arachidonoylglycerol (2‐AG) bind to CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors in the brain and modulate the mesolimbic dopaminergic pathway. This neurocircuitry is engaged by psychostimulant drugs, including cocaine. Although CB1 receptor antagonism and CB2 receptor activation are known to inhibi...

Background: Recently, we demonstrated that the antipsychotic dopaminergic and serotoninergic agonist aripiprazole induced peripheral antinociception. However, the mechanism underlying this effect has not been fully established. Here, our aim was to identify possible relationships between this action of aripiprazole and the endocannabinoid system....

The monoamine stabilizer (3S)-3-[3-(methenesulfonyl)phenyl]-1-propylpiperidine hidrochloride [(−)-OSU6162] is a promising compound for the treatment of neurological and psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia. Here, we tested the hypothesis that (−)-OSU6162 prevents hyperlocomotion and sensorimotor deficits in prepulse inhibition of the startl...

Background Dopamine is the major neurotransmitter implicated in schizophrenia pathology. Thus, understanding the processes modulating dopaminergic signalling may lead to new insights in the biology and treatment of this disorder. The endocannabinoids anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglicerol (2-AG) modulate neural activity through interactions CB1 and...

Inhibition of dopamine transporter (DAT) by GBR12909 has been proposed as a pharmacological model of mania related to bipolar disorder (BD). Here we tested the hypothesis that GBR12909 injection impairs habituation and induces hyperlocomotion in mice, along with changes in cytokines and neurotrophic factors levels, as observed in BD patients. We al...

It has been suggested for centuries that Cannabis sativa may be effective in treating epilepsy. The scientific evidence, however, has remained surprisingly scant. Δ⁹-Tetrahydrocannabinol, the main active compound from this plant, and other phytocannabinoids (cannabidiol, Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabivarin, and cannabidivarin), attenuates seizures in experim...

Cannabidiol (CBD), the main nonpsychotomimetic compound from Cannabis sativa, inhibits experimental seizures in animal models and alleviates certain types of intractable epilepsies in patients. Its pharmacological profile, however, is still uncertain. Here we tested the hypothesis that CBD anticonvulsant mechanisms are prevented by cannabinoid (CB1...

Background Aripiprazole is an antipsychotic drug used to treat schizophrenia and related disorders. Our previous study showed that this compound also induces antinociceptive effects. The present study aimed to assess the participation of the opioid system in this effect. Methods Male Swiss mice were submitted to paw pressure test and hyperalgesia...

Angiotensin-(1-7) [Ang-(1-7)], a counterregulatory peptide of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), exerts its cardiovascular and renal functions through the G-protein-coupled receptor Mas. More recently, Ang-(1-7) has also been implicated in the control of emotional states related to fear and anxiety. Here, we tested the hypothesis that transgenic r...

2-Arachidonoylglycerol and anandamide are the main endocannabinoids, which act through cannabinoid type-1 and type-2 receptors. Among its many functions, anandamide modulates anxiety-like behaviors in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex. The role of 2-arachidonoylglycerol in this region, however, has remained unclear. Here, we verified whether intra...

Angiotensin II (Ang II) acts as a pro-stress hormone, while other evidence indicates that angiotensin-(1-7) [Ang-(1-7)] attenuates physiological responses to emotional stress. To further test this hypothesis, in groups of 5–6 rats we evaluated autonomic, cardiovascular and behavioral parameters in male Sprague-Dawley (SD) and transgenic TGR(A1-7)32...

Introduction: Bipolar disorder is a chronic disabling condition characterized by alternating manic and depressive episodes. Bipolar disorder has been associated with functional impairment, poor quality of life, morbidity and mortality. Despite its significant clinical, social and economic burden, treatment options for bipolar disorder are still li...

Anandamide, an endocannabinoid, inhibits aversive responses by activating the CB1 cannabinoid receptor. At high concentrations, however, anandamide may exert pro-aversive activities mediated by the transient receptor potential vanilloid type-1 channel (TRPV1). Accordingly, N-arachidonoyl-serotonin (AA-5-HT), a dual blocker of the anandamide-hydroly...

Objectives: Understanding if cannabidiol (CBD) is a useful and safe for the treatment of psychiatric disorders is essential to empower psychiatrists and patients to take good clinical decisions. Our aim was to conduct a systematic review regarding the benefits and adverse events (AEs) of CBD in the treatment of schizophrenia, psychotic disorders, a...

Maternal immune activation (MIA) during pregnancy in rodents increases the risk of the offspring to develop schizophrenia-related behaviors, suggesting a relationship between the immune system and the brain development. Here we tested the hypothesis that MIA induced by the viral mimetic polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly I:C) in early or late ge...

Objective: The cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) and transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1 (TRPV1) are proposed to mediate opposite behavioural responses. Their common denominator is the endocannabinoid ligand anandamide (AEA), which is believed to mediate antidepressant-like effect via CB1-R stimulation and depressive-like e...

The medical properties of Cannabis sativa is known for centuries. Since the discovery and characterization of the endogenous cannabinoid system, several studies have evaluated how cannabinoid compounds and, particularly, how the modulation of the endocannabinoid (eCB) system influences a wide range of functions, from metabolic to mental disorders....

Selective stimulation of carotid chemoreceptors by intravenous infusion of low doses of potassium cyanide (KCN) produces short-lasting escape responses that have been proposed as a model of panic attack. In turn, preclinical studies suggest that facilitation of the endocannabinoid system attenuate panic-like responses. Here, we compared the effects...

CB1 and TRPV1 receptors may have opposite roles in modulating neural activity and, consequently, in regulating the stress response. These receptors are widely expressed in several brain structures, including the ventral medial pre-frontal cortex (vmPFC). The functional consequences of the interaction between CB1 and TRPV1, however, have scarcely be...

The metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) and the cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) exhibit a functional interaction, as CB1 regulates pre-synaptic glutamate release and mGluR5 activation increases endocannabinoid synthesis at the post-synaptic site. Since both mGluR5 and CB1 promote neuroprotection, we delineated experiments to investigate a possi...

Angiotensin-(1-7) [Ang-(1-7)], a counter-regulatory peptide of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) exerts its effects through the G-protein-coupled receptor Mas, which is expressed in different tissues, including the brain. Ang-(1-7) has a broad range of effects beyond the well-described cardiovascular and renal actions, including the modulation of...

2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) is an endogenous ligand of the cannabinoid CB1 receptor. This endocannabinoid and its hydrolyzing enzyme, monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL), are present in encephalic regions related to psychiatric disorders, including the midbrain dorsolateral periaqueductal grey (dlPAG). The dlPAG is implicated in panic disorder and its...

Since the first report that the mechanism of action of antidepressants involves the facilitation of monoaminergic neurotransmission in the brain in the 1960s, the leading hypothesis about the neurobiology of depression has been the so called "monoaminergic hypothesis". However, a growing body of evidence from the last two decades also supports impo...

Aripiprazole is an antipsychotic that acts as a partial agonist at dopamine D2 receptors. In addition to its antipsychotic activity, this compound blocks the effects of some psychostimulant drugs. It has not been verified, however, if aripiprazole interferes with the effects of caffeine. Hence, this study tested the hypothesis that aripiprazole pre...

Cannabidiol (CBD), a major non-psychotomimetic constituent of Cannabis sativa, has therapeutic potential for certain psychiatric and neurological disorders. Studies in laboratory animals and limited human trials indicate that CBD has anticonvulsant and neuroprotective properties. Its effects against cocaine neurotoxicity, however, has remained uncl...

Cocaine is an addictive substance with a potential to cause deleterious effects in the brain. The strategies for treating its neurotoxicity, however, are limited. Evidence suggest that the endocannabinoid system exerts neuroprotective functions against various stimuli. Thus, we hypothesized that inhibition of fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), the...

Cocaine is a commonly abused illicit drug that causes significant morbidity and mortality. The most severe and common complications are seizures, ischemic strokes, myocardial infarction, and acute liver injury. Here, we demonstrated that acute cocaine intoxication promoted seizure along with acute liver damage in mice, with intense inflammatory inf...

Panic attacks, a major feature of panic disorder, can be modelled in rats by exposing animals to stimuli that induce escape reactions, such as the elevated T-maze or the activation of the dorsolateral periaqueductal grey. Since the cannabinoid CB1 receptor modulates various types of aversive responses, this study tested the hypothesis that enhancem...

The transient receptor potential vanilloid type-1 channel (TRPV1) is expressed in the midbrain periaqueductal grey (PAG), a region of the brain related to aversive responses. TRPV1 antagonism in the dorsolateral PAG (dlPAG) induces anxiolytic-like effects in models based on conflict situations. No study, however, has investigated whether these rece...

Substance dependence disorder is a chronically relapsing condition characterised by neurobiological changes leading to loss of control in restricting a substance intake, compulsion and withdrawal syndrome. In the past few years, (endo)cannabinoids have been raised as a possible target in the aetiology of drug addiction. On the other hand, although...

Rationale: Direct activation of the cannabinoid CB1 receptor in the dorsolateral periaqueductal gray (dlPAG) inhibits anxiety- and panic-related behaviours in experimental animals. It has remained unclear, however, whether the local endocannabinoid signalling is recruited as a protective mechanism against aversive stimuli. Objectives: The presen...

Liposomes are nanosystems that allow a sustained release of entrapped substances. Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the most prevalent inhibitory neurotransmitter of the central nervous system (CNS). We developed a liposomal formulation of GABA for application in long-term CNS functional studies. Two days after liposome-entrapped GABA was injected...

Since the identification and cloning of the major cannabinoid receptor expressed in the brain almost 25 years ago research has highlighted the potential of drugs that target the endocannabinoid system for treating addiction. The endocannabinoids, anandamide and 2-arachidonoyl glycerol, are lipid-derived metabolites found in abundance in the basal g...

The endocannabinoid system comprises the CB1 and CB2 receptors (the targets of the Cannabis sativa compound delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol), the endogenous ligands (endocannabinoids) arachidonoyl ethanolamide (anandamide) and 2-arachidonoyl glycerol, their synthesizing machinery and membrane transport system, and the hydrolyzing enzymes fatty acid am...

Selective blockade of anandamide hydrolysis, through inhibition of the FAAH enzyme, has anticonvulsant effects, which are mediated by CB1 receptors. Anandamide, however, also activates TRPV1 channels, generally with opposite outcomes on neuronal modulation. Thus, we hypothesized that the dual FAAH and TRPV1 blockade with N-arachidonoyl-serotonin (A...

Social memory consists of the information necessary to identify and recognize co-specifics and is essential to many forms of social interaction. Social memory persistence is strongly modulated by the animal's experiences. We have shown in previous studies that social isolation (SI) in adulthood impairs social memory persistence and that an enriched...

We investigated the hypothesis that rimonabant, a cannabinoid antagonist/inverse agonist, would increase anxiety in healthy subjects during a simulation of the public speaking test. Participants were randomly allocated to receive oral placebo or 90 mg rimonabant in a double-blind design. Subjective effects were measured by Visual Analogue Mood Scal...

It is well known that physical exercise has positive effects on cognitive functions and hippocampal plasticity. However, the underlying mechanisms have remained to be further investigated. Here we investigated the hypothesis that the memory-enhancement promoted by physical exercise relies on facilitation of the endocannabinoid system. We observed t...

Anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) are the two main endocannabinoids, exerting their effects by activating type 1 (CB1r) and type 2 (CB2r) cannabinoid receptors. Anandamide inhibits anxiety-like responses through the activation of CB1r in certain brain regions, including the dorsolateral periaqueductal gray (dlPAG). 2-AG also attenuates a...

An extensive literature has implicated the endocannabinoid system in the modulation anxiety-related responses. Nonetheless, it remains uncertain what would be the effects of endocannabinoid-related compounds against responses related to specific subtypes of anxiety disorders, particularly generalized anxiety and panic. In this context, the elevated...

Panic disorder (PD) is a subtype of anxiety disorder in which the core phenomenon is the spontaneous occurrence of panic attacks. Although studies with laboratory animals have been instrumental for the understanding of its neurobiology and treatment, few review articles have focused on the validity of the currently used animal models for studying t...

The Transient Receptors Potential Vanilloid Type 1 channels (TRPV1) are expressed in several brain regions related to defensive behaviors, including the dorsolateral periaqueductal grey (dlPAG). The endocannabinoid anandamide, in addition to its agonist activity at cannabinoid type 1 (CB1), is also proposed as an endogenous agonist of these recepto...

Cannabinoids and drugs that increase endocannabinoid levels inhibit neuronal excitability and restrain epileptic seizures through CB1 receptor activation. Nevertheless, the results have not been entirely consistent, since pro-convulsant effects have also been reported. The present study aimed to further investigate the effects of cannabinoid-relate...

Cannabidiol (CBD), the main non-psychotomimetic component of the plant Cannabis sativa, exerts therapeutically promising effects on human mental health such as inhibition of psychosis, anxiety and depression. However, the mechanistic bases of CBD action are unclear. Here we investigate the potential involvement of hippocampal neurogenesis in the an...

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a major phytocannabinoid present in the Cannabis sativa plant. It lacks the psychotomimetic and other psychotropic effects that the main plant compound Δ(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) being able, on the contrary, to antagonize these effects. This property, together with its safety profile, was an initial stimulus for the invest...

The use of antipsychotic drugs represents an important approach for the treatment of schizophrenia. However, their efficacy is limited to certain symptoms of this disorder, and they induce serious side effects. As a result, there is a strong demand for the development of new drugs, which depends on reliable animal models for pharmacological charact...

Rationale The endocannabinoid and endovanniloid anandamide (AEA) exerts biphasic effects when injected into the dorsolateral periaqueductal grey (dlPAG) in rats submitted to threatening situations. Whereas lower doses of AEA induce anxiolytic-like effects by activating cannabinoid CB1 receptors, no effects are observed with higher doses, possibly d...

Aripiprazole is an antipsychotic that acts as a partial agonist at dopamine receptors. Since the effects of most drugs of abuse converge to enhance dopamine-mediated neurotransmission, the present study was designed to test the hypothesis that aripiprazole would inhibit the acute effects of ethanol, a widely abused substance. Male Swiss mice receiv...

Schizophrenia is a psychiatric disorder whose mechanisms have remained only partially elucidated. The current proposals regarding its biological basis, such as the dopaminergic hypothesis, do not fully explain the diversity of its symptoms, indicating that other processes may be involved. This paper aims to review evidence supporting the involvemen...

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) may either enhance or inhibit responses to aversive stimuli, possibly caused by its modulatory activity on diverse neurotransmitters. The aim of this work was to investigate the involvement of serotonin (5-HT) and catecholamines, as well as the role of glutamatergic and GABAergic cannabinoid type 1 (CB1) receptor, i...

Cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB(1)) agonists usually induce dose-dependent biphasic effects on anxiety-related responses. Low doses induce anxiolytic-like effects, whereas high doses are ineffective or anxiogenic, probably due to activation of Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid Type 1 (TRPV(1)) channels. In this study we have investigated this hypot...

This paper presents an up-to-date review of the evidence indicating that atypical neurotransmitters such as nitric oxide (NO) and endocannabinoids (eCBs) play an important role in the regulation of aversive responses in the periaqueductal gray (PAG). Among the results supporting this role, several studies have shown that inhibitors of neuronal NO s...

Liposomes are lipid vesicles that allow a sustained release of entrapped substances. GABA is the most prevalent inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. In this study we tested the efficacy of liposome‐entrapped GABA (GL) in attenuating the cardiovascular response evoked by intracerebroventricular (icv) administration of GABA A an...

Method. The text is based on the main articles on the discovery of the mechanisms through which cannabis exerts its effects, as well as on contemporary research trying to develop new medicines based on the endocannabinoid system. Results. Despite the ancient use of Cannabis sativa, there have been very few applications of thus herb in contemporary...

Public concern on mental health has noticeably increased given the high prevalence of neuropsychiatric disorders. Cognition and emotionality are the most affected functions in neuropsychiatric disorders, i.e., anxiety disorders, depression, and schizophrenia. In this review, most relevant literature on the role of the endocannabinoid (eCB) system i...

The midbrain dorsal periaqueductal gray (dPAG) has an important role in orchestrating anxiety- and panic-related responses. Given the cellular and behavioral evidence suggesting opposite functions for cannabinoid type 1 receptor (CB₁) and transient receptor potential vanilloid type-1 channel (TRPV1), we hypothesized that they could differentially i...

The transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 channel (TRPV1; originally vanilloid receptor VR1) is activated in peripheral terminals of nociceptive fibers by noxious heat, low pH, and natural products such as capsaicin, the pungent ingredient of red-hot chilli peppers. Evidence has been accumulating that TRPV1 is expressed also in the brain, w...

Aripiprazole is a unique antipsychotic that seems to act as a partial agonist at dopamine D2-receptors, contrasting with other drugs in this class, which are silent antagonists. Aripiprazole may also bind to serotonin receptors. Both neurotransmitters may play major roles in aversion-, anxiety- and panic-related behaviours. Thus, the present work t...

Administration of Cannabis sativa derivatives causes anxiolytic or anxiogenic effects in humans and laboratory animals, depending on the specific compound and dosage used. In agreement with these findings, several studies in the last decade have indicated that the endocannabinoid system modulates neuronal activity in areas involved in defensive res...

OBJETIVO: Este artigo revisa o sistema endocanabinoide e as respectivas estratégias de intervenções farmacológicas. MÉTODO: Realizou-se uma revisão da literatura sobre o sistema endocanabinoide e a sua farmacologia, considerando-se artigos originais ou de revisão escritos em inglês. DISCUSSÃO: Canabinoides são um grupo de compostos presentes na Can...

The present review provides a brief introduction into the endocannabinoid system and discusses main strategies of pharmacological interventions. We have reviewed the literature relating to the endocannabinoid system and its pharmacology; both original and review articles written in English were considered. Cannabinoids are a group of compounds pres...

he use of Cannabis sativa by humans dates back several thousand years, for both its psychotomimetic and potential medicinal properties. As scientific research methods developed, the cannabinoids present in this herb were characterized, as well as their complex interface with the human central nervous system, provided by the activation of specific r...

The term cannabinoids encompasses compounds produced by the plant Cannabis sativa, such as Δ 9-tetrahydrocannabinol, and synthetic counterparts. Their actions occur mainly through activation of cannabinoid type 1 (CB1) receptors. Arachidonoyl ethanolamide (anandamide) and 2-arachidonoyl glycerol (2-AG) serve as major endogenous ligands (endocannabi...

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-psychotomimetic compound from Cannabis sativa that induces anxiolytic- and antipsychotic-like effects in animal models. Effects of CBD may be mediated by the activation of 5-HT(1A) receptors. As 5-HT(1A) receptor activation may induce antidepressant-like effects, the aim of this work was to test the hypothesis that CBD wo...

Rationale The endocannabinoid anandamide, in addition to activating cannabinoid type 1 receptors (CB1), may act as an agonist at transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1) channels. In the periaqueductal gray, CB1 activation inhibits, whereas TRPV1 increases, anxiety-like behavior. In the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), another brain re...

Experimental evidence has suggested that drugs that enhance cannabinoid type-1 (CB1) receptor activity may induce anxiolytic and antidepressant effects, whilst the opposite has been reported with antagonists. Thus, the objective of the present review is to discuss the potential psychiatric side-effects of CB1 receptor antagonists, such as rimonaban...

The endocannabinoid anandamide is a possible agonist at the Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid Type 1 (TRPV1) channel, in addition to its agonist activity at cannabinoid type 1 (CB1) receptor. In the midbrain dorsolateral periaqueductal gray (dlPAG) our previous data showed that CB1 activation induces anxiolytic-like effects. However, the role...

Both agonists (e.g. Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol, nabilone) and antagonists (e.g. rimonabant, taranabant) of the cannabinoid type-1 (CB(1)) receptor have been explored as therapeutic agents in diverse fields of medicine such as pain management and obesity with associated metabolic dysregulation, respectively. CB(1) receptors are widely distributed...

The endocannabinoid system has been proposed to modulate neuronal functions involved in distinct types of defensive reactions, possibly counteracting the harmful consequences of stressful stimuli. However, the precise brain sites for this action remain to be further explored. This chapter summarizes the data about the role of the endocannabinoid sy...

Cannabinoids play an important role in activity-dependent changes in synaptic activity and can interfere in several brain functions, including responses to aversive stimuli. The regions responsible for their effects, however, are still unclear. Cannabinoid type 1 (CB1) receptors are widely distributed in the central nervous system and are present i...