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MIT study suggests caution on new anti-obesity drug in kids
May 08, 2008Anti-obesity drugs that work by blocking brain molecules similar to those in marijuana could also interfere with neural development in young children, according to a new study from MIT's Picower Institute for Learning and Memory.
Marijuana is known to be an appetite stimulant, and a new class of anti-obesity drugs-such as rimonabant (trade name Acomplia) developed by Sanofi-Aventis and awaiting approval for use in the United States-work by blocking brain receptors that bind to marijuana and other cannabinoids.
Marijuana, derived from the plant Cannabis sativa, contains special active compounds that are referred to collectively as cannabinoids. But other cannabinoids (endocannabinoids) are generated naturally inside the body.
The MIT study, which was done in mice, found that blocking cannabinoid receptors could also suppress the adaptive rewiring of the brain necessary for neural development in children. The work is reported in the May 8 issue of Neuron.
"Our finding of a profound disruption of cortical plasticity in juvenile mice suggests caution is advised in the use of such compounds in children," wrote lead author Mark F. Bear, director of the Picower Institute and Picower Professor of Neuroscience.
The researchers investigated plasticity-the brain's ability to change in response to experience-by temporarily depriving newborn mice of vision in one eye soon after birth. This well-known experiment induces a long-lasting loss of synapses that causes blindness in the covered eye, while synapses shift to the uncovered eye. How and where this synaptic shift occurs in the primary visual cortex has remained controversial.
Understanding the mechanism behind this phenomenon is key because the same brain mechanisms are used for normal development and may go awry in conditions that cause developmental delays in humans, and may reappear in old age and contribute to synaptic loss during Alzheimer's disease, Bear said.
In mice, the MIT researchers found, even one day of deprivation from one eye starts the shift to dominance of the uncovered eye. But injecting the mice with a cannabinoid receptor blocker halted the shift in certain brain regions, indicating that cannabinoids play a key role in early synaptic development.
Blocking cannabinoids receptors could thwart this developmental process, the researchers said.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The MIT study, which was done in mice, found that blocking cannabinoid receptors could also suppress the adaptive rewiring of the brain necessary for neural development in children. The work is reported in the May 8 issue of Neuron.
"Our finding of a profound disruption of cortical plasticity in juvenile mice suggests caution is advised in the use of such compounds in children," wrote lead author Mark F. Bear, director of the Picower Institute and Picower Professor of Neuroscience.
The researchers investigated plasticity-the brain's ability to change in response to experience-by temporarily depriving newborn mice of vision in one eye soon after birth. This well-known experiment induces a long-lasting loss of synapses that causes blindness in the covered eye, while synapses shift to the uncovered eye. How and where this synaptic shift occurs in the primary visual cortex has remained controversial.
Understanding the mechanism behind this phenomenon is key because the same brain mechanisms are used for normal development and may go awry in conditions that cause developmental delays in humans, and may reappear in old age and contribute to synaptic loss during Alzheimer's disease, Bear said.
In mice, the MIT researchers found, even one day of deprivation from one eye starts the shift to dominance of the uncovered eye. But injecting the mice with a cannabinoid receptor blocker halted the shift in certain brain regions, indicating that cannabinoids play a key role in early synaptic development.
Blocking cannabinoids receptors could thwart this developmental process, the researchers said.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cannabinoids Current Events and Cannabinoids News RSSUse of cannabinoids (marijuana) could help post-traumatic stress disorder patients
Use of cannabinoids (marijuana) could assist in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder patients. This is exposed in a new study carried out at the Learning and Memory Lab in the University of Haifa's Department of Psychology.
Active ingredients in marijuana found to spread and prolong pain
Imagine that you're working on your back porch, hammering in a nail. Suddenly you slip and hit your thumb instead - hard. The pain is incredibly intense, but it only lasts a moment. After a few seconds (and a few unprintable words) you're ready to start hammering again.
'Cannabis alters human DNA' -- new study
A new study published by University of Leicester researchers has found "convincing evidence" that cannabis smoke damages DNA in ways that could potentially increase the risk of cancer development in humans.
Medicinal marijuana effective for neuropathic pain in HIV
In a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial to assess the impact of smoked medical cannabis, or marijuana, on the neuropathic pain associated with HIV, researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine found that reported pain relief was greater with cannabis than with a placebo.
Milestone for cannabinoid MS study
The CUPID (Cannabinoid Use in Progressive Inflammatory brain Disease) study at the Peninsula Medical School in Plymouth has reached an important milestone with the news that the full cohort of 493 people with multiple sclerosis (MS) has been recruited to the study.
Schizophrenia linked to dysfunction in molecular brain pathway activated by marijuana
Alterations in a molecular brain pathway activated by marijuana may contribute to the cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia, according to a report in the July issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
Opioids and cannabinoids influence mobility of spermatozoids
A PhD thesis from the University of the Basque Country has concluded that there are opioid and cannabinoid receptors in human sperm and that these influence the mobility of spermatozoid.
Medicines derived from cannabis: a review of adverse events
Researchers at the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC), McGill University and the University of British Columbia (UBC) determined that medical use of cannabinoids do not cause an increase in serious adverse events, but are associated with an increase in some non-serious adverse events.
U of Minnesota researcher discovers the starting point of sun-induced skin cancer
According to a new study from the University of Minnesota, the earliest event in the development of sun-induced skin cancer may have been identified.
New brain cells implicated in machinery of cannabinoid signaling
The brain cells called astrocytes, and not just neurons, are sensitive to the substances called cannabinoids-the active chemicals in marijuana.
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Cannabinoids (Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology) (Volume 168) by Roger G. Pertwee (Editor) The present book is an outstanding summary of many aspects of cannabinoid research. It provides current knowledge about the pharmacology and therapeutic potential of cannabinoids as well as knowledge about the pharmacology, physiology, and pathology of the endogenous cannabinoid systems. The chapters are written by scientists who have made or are still making major contributions to the field. This book may well help generate novel ideas on how to approach the study of emotions. |
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Cannabinoids and the Brain by Attila Köfalvi (Author), Attila Köfalvi (Editor) Endocannabinoids control most of the body functions, and in the brain, they modulate neurotransmission, synaptic plasticity, confer neuroprotection, control metabolism, neuro- and neuritogenesis, survival, cognitive and motor functions as well as a plethora of other higher-order brain functions. Their fruitful therapeutic potential is recognized by cannabinoid researchers and pharmaceutical companies, respectively. The aim of this book is to help clinicians, neuroscientists, as well as students, understand the significance of the endocannabinoid system. This book, however, also will be very useful to those who already feel comfortable with the neuroscience of endocannabinoids. The book will introduce the reader to the up-to-date neurobiology of endocannabinoids and related... |
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The Cannabinoid Receptors (The Receptors) by Patricia H. Reggio (Editor) As research has progressed, the cannabinoid CB 1 and CB 2 receptors have expanded significantly in importance within the neuroscience mainstream. In The Cannabinoid Receptors, leading experts introduce newcomers to the cannabinoid field with chapters covering cannabinoid ligand synthesis and structure activity relationships, the molecular pharmacology of the cannabinoid receptors and the endocannabinoid system, and ultimately, the whole animal pharmacology and therapeutic applications for cannabinoid drugs. Adding to those key topics, the book also examines the current direction of the field with chapters on new putative cannabinoid receptors and challenges for future research. As a part of The Receptors ™ series, this volume highlights its receptor with the most thorough, focused... |
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Medicinal Uses of Cannabis and Cannabinoids by Geoffrey W. Guy (Editor), Brian A. Whittle (Editor), Philip J. Robson (Editor) In recent years, cannabis research has moved beyond its use as an illegal recreational drug to consider its potential as a therapeutic substance, particularly in serious chronic illnesses such as multiple sclerosis. Although there is a considerable body of primary literature relating to the medicinal use of cannabis, much of the published work concerns anecdotal reports. This title describes all the contemporary research findings relating to the medicinal use of cannabis and cannabinoids, and reports on the pharmacology, formulation, safety and efficacy of cannabis as a therapeutic agent. This should be a useful reference for pharmacists, doctors, pharmacologists and all other healthcare professionals with an interest in pain control. |
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Cannabinoids as Therapeutics (Milestones in Drug Therapy) by Raphael Mechoulam (Editor) In recent years, cannabis research has concentrated on the potential of cannabinoids as therapeutic substances, particularly in serious chronic illnesses such as multiple sclerosis. Most volumes published on cannabinoids so far concentrate on the biological activity, biochemistry and pharmacology, whereas this volume concentrates on the diseases, the physiological effects and therapeutic use of cannabinoids. The volume editor Prof. Mechoulam was the first who isolated the prime active constituent (THC, Tetrahydrocannabiol) of marijuana. He published extensively on the pharmacological activities of cannabinoids. The volume is of interest to researchers and clinicians from pharmacology, neuroscience, and medicinal research. |
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Marijuana and the Cannabinoids (Forensic Science and Medicine) by Mahmoud A. ElSohly (Editor) Marijuana and the Cannabinoids presents a compendium of research into the botany, chemistry, and pharmacology of cannabis and the medicinal aspects of the cannabinoids. While medicinal use of Cannabis sativa L. has been reported for over 5000 years, interest in its medicinal potential and controversy surrounding its illicit use have grown exponentially since the identification of the chemical structure of the plant's active constituent (D9-THC) in 1964. This volume presents the findings of researchers on the forefront of this emerging and controversial field of study. Chapter 1 is an overview of Cannabis and natural Cannabis medicines, while Chapter 2 focuses on the chemistry and analysis of phytocannabinoids and other Cannabis constituents. Chapter 3 discusses the potential of chemical... |
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Marijuana and Cannabinoid Research: Methods and Protocols (Methods in Molecular Medicine) by Emmanuel S. Onaivi (Editor) A cutting-edge collection of readily reproducible in vitro and in vivo methods to elucidate the mechanisms associated with cannabinoid function in health and disease. The techniques can be used in studies across the board from genes to behavior. The molecular neurobiological methods are invaluable in analyzing the structure, the polymorphisms, and the molecular expression of the cannabinoid receptors (CBrs), as well as their association with polysubstance abuse. There are also methods for localizing cannabinoid receptors in different systems, visualizing cannabinoid effects using brain slice imaging and elctrophysiological approaches, and designing and synthesizing cannabinoids and endocannabinoids. The protocols follow the successful Methods in Molecular Medicine™ series format, each... |
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Journal of Cannabis Therapeutics Studies in Endogenous, Herbal & Synthetic Cannabinoids by Ethan Russo M.D. (Author) |
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