Saturday, January 2nd, 2010
The Journal of Molecular Psychiatry recently published an LTE from a group of researchers who demonstrated that chronic low doses of the cannabinoid WIN55212, resulted in new brain cells or neurons in the hippocampus of old rats. As we age, our ability to make new cells decreases, this may be the cause of many age related disorders. A class of drugs that can restore neurons may be a potential cure for diseases such as Parkinson’s, depression, etc.
The data was simply amazing–3 weeks of treatment resulted in noticeable effects! So this blog includes the figures from the publication, see below. On the left hand side, Figure A shows brain cells stained with red and green. Green, spindle like, staining indicates neuron growth. Pictures A and B show the typical neuron growth in developing brains. As you can see in pictures E and F, chronic administration of a non-psychotropic dose of WIN55212 restores neuron production in older rats, indicated by the green wisps. Note that this green stain is very low in old rats that did not receive the cannabinoid, pictures C and D.
The authors speculate, “Cannabinoid receptor stimulation therapy may thus provide clinical benefit for humans with age-associated memory impairment.”
Lots of molecules can activate cannabinoid receptors, so take your pick. More research is needed to determine which cannabinoids are the best option. None of the plant cannabinoids have not been explored for this effect. This not the first time cannabinoids have been linked to neurogenesis; HU-210 has also demonstrated similar effects.
Posted in Cannabination, Jahan Marcu | 1 Comment »
Sunday, July 26th, 2009
Two reviews (one & two) published this month highlight the emerging role of the Endocannabinoid system (ECS) as one of the most important mediators of our stress response, and further research into ECS could bring us new antidepressants and anxiolytic drugs—a few drugs are already a success in animal models!
There are two approaches to exploiting the ECS against depression and anxiety. One is developing a cannabis based medicine (pill, spray, etc) that targets the Cannabinoid Type 1 Receptor (CB1R).
The other approach utilizes our bodies own enzymes that degrade the THC-like compounds, synthesized from arachadonic acid, namely Anandamide (AEA) and 2-Arachidonyl glycerol (2-AG). This treatment requires compounds that inhibit the breakdown of AEA and 2-AG, thus raising the levels of AEA and 2-AG for the duration of the drug treatment. Normally, AEA and 2-AG are rapidly made, used, and degraded by our body.
Furthermore, AEA is the only known neurotransmitter that is synthesized on demand and it signals retroactivley or “backwards”—again it’s the first and only. Yet, if you check any recent biochemical pathway charts in medical textbooks, AEA is usually missing from the chart– nearly 20 years after it’s discovery! And AEA has NEVER been used in a clinical trial even though acetominophen, once metabolized inhibits AEA degradation! Since, one of the most widely used OTC drugs in the world works partially through the ECS, why are there no clincal trials with non-toxic AEA?
Most likely the biggest break through in depression and cannabinoid research occurred at the University of Saskatchewan in Canada, when researchers gave a drug, code named “HU-210″ to rats. HU-210 is 100 to 1000x more potent than THC, depending on the experimental assay. After a few weeks of treatment, analysis of the rat brains revealed that HU-210 caused neurogenesis. Meaning the rats grew new brain cells from stem cells, and those brain cells matured into neurons. This occurred specifically in the hippocampus. The Authors speculated that this compound could be a cure for depression and this could also be considered a stem cell based therapy.
As the patents on billion-drugs (like questionably effective drugs such as SSRI’s) are near expiration, cannabinoids stand as a clear beacon of therapeutic promise. Other governments (UK, Israel, the Netherlands, Spain, Germany…) have realized this, eased cannabis research restrictions, and allowed legitimate companies to emerge which focus solely on developing and distributing cannabinoid medicines. If our governemnt waits too much longer and restrictions on cannabis research are not eased, U.S. researchers will miss out on this centuries medical breakthroughs. And that would truly be depressing…
Posted in Cannabination, Contributing Author: Jahan Marcu | 2 Comments »
