Abstract
Marijuana/cannabinoid research has been transformed into mainstream science during the last half-century. Evidence based research and remarkable biotechnological advances demonstrate that phytocannabinoids and endocannabinoid (eCBs) acting on cannabinoid receptors (CBRs) regulate various aspects of human physiological, behavioral, immunological and metabolic functions. The distribution and function of the components of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) in the central nervous system (CNS) and immune processes have garnished significant research focus with major milestones. With these advances in biotechnology, rapid extension of the ECS research in the periphery has gained momentum. In this chapter, we review the components and tissue distribution of this previously unknown but ubiquitous and complex ECS that is involved in almost all aspects of mammalian physiology and pathology.
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Abbreviations
- 2-AG:
-
2-arachidonyl glycerol
- CBRs:
-
cannabinoid receptors
- CNS:
-
central nervous system
- eCB:
-
endocannabinoids
- ECS:
-
endocannabinoid system
- ENS:
-
enteric nervous system
- ER:
-
endoplasmic reticulum
- GABA:
-
gamma-aminobutyric acid
- GI:
-
gastrointestinal
- mtCBR:
-
mitochondrial cannabinoid receptor
- NAc:
-
nucleus accumbens
- p-CREB:
-
phosphor-cAMP response element-binding protein
- PPARs:
-
peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors
- THC:
-
tetrahydrocannabinol
- TRPV1:
-
transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1
- CNR:
-
cannabinoid receptor gene
- GPCR:
-
G-protein coupled receptor
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Joshi, N., Onaivi, E.S. (2019). Endocannabinoid System Components: Overview and Tissue Distribution. In: Bukiya, A. (eds) Recent Advances in Cannabinoid Physiology and Pathology. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 1162. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-21737-2_1
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