Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, USA.
Neurotoxicology. 2010 Sep;31(5):562-71. doi: 10.1016/j.neuro.2009.12.002. Epub 2009 Dec 5.
The cannabis plant and products produced from it, such as marijuana and hashish, have been used for centuries for their psychoactive properties. The mechanism for how Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active constituent of cannabis, elicits these neurological effects remained elusive until relatively recently, when specific G-protein coupled receptors were discovered that appeared to mediate cellular actions of THC. Shortly after discovery of these specific receptors, endogenous ligands (endocannabinoids) were identified. Since that time, an extensive number of papers have been published on the endocannabinoid signaling system, a widespread neuromodulatory mechanism that influences neurotransmission throughout the nervous system. This paper summarizes presentations given at the 12th International Neurotoxicology Association meeting that described the potential role of endocannabinoids in the expression of neurotoxicity. Dr. Raphael Mechoulam first gave an overview of the discovery of exogenous and endogenous cannabinoids and their potential for neuroprotection in a variety of conditions. Dr. Larry Parsons then described studies suggesting that endocannabinoid signaling may play a selective role in drug reinforcement. Dr. Carey Pope presented information on the role that endocannabinoid signaling may have in the expression of cholinergic toxicity following anticholinesterase exposures. Together, these presentations highlighted the diverse types of neurological insults that may be modulated by endocannabinoids and drugs/toxicants which might influence endocannabinoid signaling pathways.
大麻植物及其制品，如大麻和哈希什，已被使用了几个世纪，因其具有致幻特性。直到最近，大麻中具有活性的成分 Delta(9)-四氢大麻酚（THC）引起这些神经效应的机制才被发现，当时发现了特定的 G 蛋白偶联受体，这些受体似乎介导 THC 的细胞作用。在发现这些特定受体后不久，内源性配体（内源性大麻素）被鉴定出来。从那时起，已经发表了大量关于内源性大麻素信号系统的论文，该系统是一种广泛存在的神经调制机制，影响整个神经系统的神经传递。本文总结了第十二届国际神经毒理学协会会议上的演讲，这些演讲描述了内源性大麻素在神经毒性表达中的潜在作用。Raphael Mechoulam 博士首先概述了外源性和内源性大麻素的发现及其在各种情况下神经保护的潜力。然后，Larry Parsons 博士描述了一些研究，表明内源性大麻素信号可能在药物强化中发挥选择性作用。Carey Pope 博士介绍了内源性大麻素信号在抗胆碱酯酶暴露后胆碱能毒性表达中可能发挥的作用的信息。这些演讲共同强调了可能受内源性大麻素调节的各种类型的神经损伤，以及可能影响内源性大麻素信号通路的药物/毒物。
