Cannabinoids

1. Front Matter

   Pages I-XII

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2. Pharmacological Actions of Cannabinoids

   • R. G. Pertwee

   Pages 1-51

3. Cannabinoid Receptor Signaling

   • A. C. Howlett

   Pages 53-79

4. Molecular Biology of Cannabinoid Receptors

   • M. E. Abood

   Pages 81-115

5. Analysis of the Endocannabinoid System by Using CB1 Cannabinoid Receptor Knockout Mice

   • O. Valverde, M. Karsak, A. Zimmer

   Pages 117-145

6. The Biosynthesis, Fate and Pharmacological Properties of Endocannabinoids

   • V. Di Marzo, T. Bisogno, L. De Petrocellis

   Pages 147-185

7. Modulators of Endocannabinoid Enzymic Hydrolysis and Membrane Transport

   • W.-S. V. Ho, C. J. Hillard

   Pages 187-207

8. Structural Requirements for Cannabinoid Receptor Probes

   • G. A. Thakur, S. P. Nikas, C. Li, A. Makriyannis

   Pages 209-246

9. Cannabinoid Receptors and Their Ligands: Ligand—Ligand and Ligand—Receptor Modeling Approaches

   • P. H. Reggio

   Pages 247-281

10. The Phylogenetic Distribution and Evolutionary Origins of Endocannabinoid Signalling

    • M. R. Elphick, M. Egertová

    Pages 283-297

11. Distribution of Cannabinoid Receptors in the Central and Peripheral Nervous System

    • K. Mackie

    Pages 299-325

12. Effects of Cannabinoids on Neurotransmission

    • B. Szabo, E. Schlicker

    Pages 327-365

13. Retrograde Signalling by Endocannabinoids

    • C. W. Vaughan, M. J. Christie

    Pages 367-383

14. Effects on the Immune System

    • G. A. Cabral, A. Staab

    Pages 385-423

15. Imaging of the Brain Cannabinoid System

    • K. P. Lindsey, S. T. Glaser, S. J. Gatley

    Pages 425-443

16. Cannabinoid Function in Learning, Memory and Plasticity

    • G. Riedel, S. N. Davies

    Pages 445-477

17. Cannabinoid Control of Motor Function at the Basal Ganglia

    • J. Fernández-Ruiz, S. González

    Pages 479-507

18. Cannabinoid Mechanisms of Pain Suppression

    • J. M. Walker, A G. Hohmann

    Pages 509-554

19. Effects of Cannabinoids on Hypothalamic and Reproductive Function

    • M. Maccarrone, T. Wenger

    Pages 555-571

20. Cannabinoids and the Digestive Tract

    • A. A. Izzo, A. A. Coutts

    Pages 573-598

Less than 20 years ago the ?eld of cannabis and the cannabinoids was still c- sidered a minor, somewhat quaint, area of research. A few groups were active in the ?eld, but it was already being viewed as stagnating. The chemistry of cannabis 9 9 was well known, ? -tetrahydrocannabinol (? -THC), identi?ed in 1964, being the only major psychoactive constituent and cannabidiol, which is not psychoactive, possibly contributing to some of the effects. These cannabinoids and several s- thetic analogs had been thoroughly investigated for their pharmacological effects. Their mode of action was considered to be non-speci?c. The reasons for this - sumption were both technical and conceptual. On the technical side, it had been shown that THC was active in both enantiomeric forms (though with a different level of potency) and this observation was incompatible with action on biological substrates—a receptor, an enzyme, an ion channel—which react with a single stereoisomer only. The conceptual problem related to THC activity. This had been pointed out by several highly regarded research groups that had shown that many of the effects seen with cannabinoids were related to those of biologically active lipophiles, and that many of the effects of THC, particularly chronic ones, were comparable to those seen with anaesthetics and solvents.

• Cannabinoid
• Nervous System
• cannabinoid mechanisms of pain suppression
• cannabinoid receptors and their ligands
• endocannabinoids
• molecular biology and signalling of cannabinoid receptors
• physiology

• School of Medical Sciences, Institute of Medical Science, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK

  Roger G. Pertwee