ENDOCANNABINOIDS CHEMICAL STRUCTURE, ROLE IN PHYSIOLOGICAL PROCESSES AND THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS

ENDOCANNABINOIDS CHEMICAL STRUCTURE, ROLE IN PHYSIOLOGICAL PROCESSES AND THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

CONTENTS

PREFACE

Chapter 1 ENDOCANNABINOIDS: CHEMICAL STRUCTURES, PHYSIOLOGICAL ROLE AND THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS

ABSTRACT

1. INTRODUCTION

2. THE ENDOCANNABINOID SYSTEM

2.1. History

2.2. Endocannabinoid System

2.2.1. Cannabinoid Receptors

2.2.2. Endocannabinoids

2.2.3. Set of Enzymes

3. PHYSIOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY OF ENDOCANNABINOID SYSTEM

3.1. Cardiovascular Diseases

3.2. Pain and Inflammation

3.3. Central Nervous System Disorders

3.4. Cholinergic System

3.5. Cancer

3.6. Mental Diseases

4. CHEMICAL FEATURES OF ENDOCANNABINOIDS

5. CHRONOBIOLOGY OF ENDOCANNABINOIDS

REFERENCES

Chapter 2 ANANDAMIDE IS A FAST RETROGRADE SIGNALING MOLECULE IN NEURAL CIRCUITS

ABSTRACT

CANNABINOIDS

CANNABINOID RECEPTORS

RETROGRADE SIGNALING

DEPOLARIZATION-INDUCED SUPPRESSION OF INHIBITION (DSI) AS A BIOASSAY

FLASH PHOTOLYSIS OF ANANDAMIDE

KINETICS OF ANANDAMIDE SIGNALING

ANANDAMIDE IS A FAST RETROGRADE SIGNALING MOLECULE

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

REFERENCES

Chapter 3 ENDOCANNABINOIDS, ENDOVANILLOIDS AND RELATED NEUROLIPINS AS MULTIFUNCTIONAL PROTECTIVE LIPIDS

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION

METHODS

FAAH Assay

Neuronal Culture

Potassium Deprivation

Glutamate Toxicity

Hypoxia

Caspase Assay

DNA Fragmentation Assay

In Vivo Ischemia

Oxidative Glutamate Neurotoxicity

RESULTS

Neuroprotection in the Model of Neuronal Apoptosis

Neuroprotection in the Model of Excitotoxic Glutamate Neurotoxicity

Neuroprotection in the Model of Oxidative Glutamate Neurotoxicity

Neurolipins Protect Neurons against Hypoxia

Potentiation of ADA Neuroprotection by FAAH Inhibition

The Protective Effect of N-Arachidonoyl Dopamines in Focal Ischemia

Morphogenesis

DISCUSSION

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

REFERENCES

Chapter 4 ANALYTICAL TOOLS FOR ANANDAMIDE DETERMINATION IN BIOLOGICAL MATRICES

ABSTRACT

ABBREVIATION

INTRODUCTION

EXTRACTION AND CLEAN UP FROM BIOLOGICAL MATRICES

ANALYTICAL PROCEDURES FOR ANANDAMIDE QUANTIFICATION

CONCLUSION

REFERENCES

INDEX