Endocannabinoid system and drug addiction: new insights from mutant mice approaches.

Abstract

The involvement of the endocannabinoid system in drug addiction was initially studied by the use of compounds with different affinities for each cannabinoid receptor or for the proteins involved in endocannabinoids inactivation. The generation of genetically modified mice with selective mutations in these endocannabinoid system components has now provided important advances in establishing their specific contribution to drug addiction. These genetic tools have identified the particular interest of CB1 cannabinoid receptor and endogenous anandamide as potential targets for drug addiction treatment. Novel genetic tools will allow determining if the modulation of CB2 cannabinoid receptor activity and 2-arachidonoylglycerol tone can also have an important therapeutic relevance for drug addiction.

• Authors: Rafael Maldonado, Patricia Robledo, Fernando Berrendero
• Journal: Current opinion in neurobiology (Curr Opin Neurobiol) Vol. 23 Issue 4 Pg. 480-6 (Aug 2013) ISSN: 1873-6882 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 23490550 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Endocannabinoids
• Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1
• Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2
• Monoacylglycerol Lipases
• Amidohydrolases
• fatty-acid amide hydrolase

Topics

• Amidohydrolases (genetics)
• Animals
• Disease Models, Animal
• Endocannabinoids (genetics, metabolism)
• Humans
• Mice
• Mice, Transgenic
• Monoacylglycerol Lipases (genetics)
• Mutation (genetics)
• Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1 (genetics)
• Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2 (genetics)
• Substance-Related Disorders (genetics, metabolism)