Department of Psychiatry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 115 27 Athens, Greece.
Department of Physiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 115 27 Athens, Greece.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Dec 21;19(1):28. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19010028.
Recent research indicates that both endocannabinoids (eCB) and heart rate variability (HRV) are associated with stress-induced experiences. However, these underlying mechanisms are not elucidated. The present study aims to investigate whether exposure to acute and chronic stress conditions can give rise to measurable changes, both to the peripheral eCB ligands and HRV.
Thirteen candidates under intense preparation for their enlistment in the Hellenic Navy SEALs (HNS) participated in the study. All subjects underwent mental state examination, while HRV variables in time and frequency domain recordings were acquired. Furthermore, at baseline and 30 days after prolonged and intensive physical exercise, hair was collected to measure eCB ligands, such as anandamide (AEA), 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), and the -acyl ethanolamine (NAE) molecules: palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) and oleoylethanolamide (OEA).
Comparing basal hair concentrations of eCB ligands before and after intense physical exercise, we found that AEA, PEA, and OEA were notably increased, whereas no differences were observed regarding the ligand 2-AG. Furthermore, there were observed associations between the concentrations of peripheral eCB ligands, both at baseline and after the prolonged physical exercise and the time and frequency domains of HRV.
These findings suggest that endocannabinoid-HRV interrelations might share a short-term, and long-term adaptability of the changes in self-regulation associated with stress. Further studies will be required to determine the validity of peripheral eCB signaling and HRV as a biomarker for different aspects of the stress response.
最近的研究表明，内源性大麻素（eCB）和心率变异性（HRV）都与应激引起的体验有关。然而，这些潜在的机制尚不清楚。本研究旨在探讨急性和慢性应激条件的暴露是否会导致外周 eCB 配体和 HRV 发生可测量的变化。
13 名候选人在激烈准备加入希腊海军海豹突击队（HNS）的过程中参与了这项研究。所有受试者都接受了心理状态检查，同时还记录了 HRV 变量的时域和频域。此外，在基线和 30 天后，在长时间和强化的体育锻炼后，采集头发以测量 eCB 配体，如花生四烯酸乙醇胺（AEA）、2-花生四烯酸甘油（2-AG）和酰基乙醇胺（NAE）分子：棕榈酸乙醇酰胺（PEA）和油酸乙醇酰胺（OEA）。
比较剧烈体育锻炼前后基础头发中 eCB 配体的浓度，我们发现 AEA、PEA 和 OEA 明显增加，而 2-AG 配体则没有差异。此外，在基线和长时间体育锻炼后，外周 eCB 配体的浓度与 HRV 的时域和频域之间存在相关性。
这些发现表明，内源性大麻素-HRV 相互关系可能与与应激相关的自我调节变化具有短期和长期的适应性。需要进一步的研究来确定外周 eCB 信号和 HRV 作为应激反应不同方面的生物标志物的有效性。
