Readable research linked to original sources
Articles
Browse normalized, publication-ready research with direct links to its evidence and source.
Loading articles data…
Readable research linked to original sources
Browse normalized, publication-ready research with direct links to its evidence and source.
Loading articles data…
Readable research linked to original sources
Browse normalized, publication-ready research with direct links to its evidence and source.
1,112 articles
Newest firstBackground and hypothesis A sex difference in the clinical presentation of schizophrenia is well known. Males have on average an earlier symptom onset, worse functional capacity, and more negative symptoms. Studies on the neurobiological correlates of psychosis show that brain endocannabinoid system (ECS) is dysregulated in male patients with first-episode psychosis (FEP). We now evaluated whether the brain ECS is…
Open article record in new tab ↗N-arachidonoylethanolamine (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) are lipid signalling molecules within the endocannabinoid system, which regulates numerous physiological processes and is implicated in diverse pathological conditions. Given the limited feasibility of obtaining human tissue samples, quantifying AEA and 2-AG in biological matrices is essential for understanding the endocannabinoid system in humans.…
Open article record in new tab ↗Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) is an endogenous lipid mediator with immunomodulatory actions, yet its effects in skeletal muscle remain poorly defined. We examined whether PEA influences myogenesis and profiled the acute transcriptomic response of differentiated C2C12 myotubes to 10 μM PEA. PEA decreased myotube number (90.3 ± 10.6 vs. 112.6 ± 10.1 control) while increasing nuclear fusion index (37.8 ± 5.7% vs. 30.7…
Open article record in new tab ↗Headache disorders, including migraine, tension-type headache, trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias, post-traumatic headache and medication overuse headache, represent a major global health burden and remain difficult to treat despite therapeutic advances. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) has emerged as a key regulator of neural, vascular, and immune processes central to headache pathophysiology. Through coordinated…
Open article record in new tab ↗Binge drinking contributes to an increasing number of emergency department visits in the United States. Previous work demonstrated that an alcohol binge impairs cardiac performance and exerts complex hemodynamic effects through the activation of the endocannabinoid-mediated cannabinoid type 1 receptor (CB1R) signaling pathway. Anandamide (AEA), an endogenous CB1R agonist, is synthesized in response to various stre…
A hallmark of many psychiatric disorders is maladaptive and heightened fear responses to non-threatening stimuli. Adaptive defensive responses to threats involve transitions between passive behaviors, such as freezing, and active escape strategies, such as darting or fleeing. The endocannabinoid (eCB) system, particularly 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), plays a crucial role in modulating fear and stress responses.…
Open article record in new tab ↗Rationale Traumatically injured individuals can develop chronic negative psychological sequelae. Improved understanding of contributing, peri-traumatic risk factors is essential to reduce the risk of these consequences. Previous studies have found that peri-traumatic, circulating endocannabinoid concentrations are positively associated with development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), chronic pain and dep…
Several studies show that neurosteroids currently play a significant role in autism spectrum disorders (ASD). However, the pathway of neurosteroid synthesis involved in ASD remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the crosstalk between autism and neurosteroids, focusing on the mechanism of allopregnanolone production. We used the BTBR T+ tf/J (BTBR) mouse, a well-established animal model of ASD that exhibi…
The endocannabinoid (EC) system is a complex network comprising endogenous ligands, enzymes responsible for their synthesis and degradation, and various receptors (including CB1 and CB2). Present in many peripheral tissues, including skeletal muscle, EC system is now recognized to influence key physiological processes such as insulin sensitivity, mitochondrial metabolism, protein homeostasis and muscle development…
Open article record in new tab ↗Rationale Harmful alcohol use remains a significant global public health challenge. Examining variability in the acute subjective effects of alcohol and related neurobiological mechanisms may advance the understanding of susceptibility to harmful alcohol use. Research suggests the endocannabinoid (eCB) system may play an important role in mediating the reinforcing effects of alcohol. This study examined the relati…
Open article record in new tab ↗Purpose of review This paper reviews the existing literature supporting a role for fatty acid ethanolamides including oleoylethanolamide and palmitoylethanolamide in regulating cholesterol and triglyceride metabolism and the mechanisms underlying these effects. Recent findings Deletion of various fatty acid ethanolamide biosynthesis genes in cellular models and small animal models have provided additional evidence…
Open article record in new tab ↗Rationale The ongoing global opioid crisis underscores the need to better understand the neurobiological mechanisms underlying opioid use disorder (OUD). Stress is a key risk factor for developing and maintaining OUD. While animal models report that the endocannabinoid system (ECS) plays a modulatory role in stress response, alterations of ECS stress reactivity in individuals with OUD have yet to be studied. Objec…
Open article record in new tab ↗Background This SONRIE randomized controlled trial (NCT05849792) examined the effects of a 12-week combined physical exercise and internet-based cognitive-behavioral therapy (iCBT) intervention on endocannabinoid system (ES) biomarkers and physical fitness in adults with mild-to-moderate depression. Methods Eighty adults were randomly assigned 1:1 to an intervention (IG) or control (CG) group. Outcomes included ni…
Background Depression is a leading cause of global disability, affecting approximately 280 million individuals worldwide. Emerging evidence suggests that both physical fitness and endocannabinoids system play significant roles in the pathophysiology and management of depressive disorders. Purpose To examine the associations between physical fitness, in terms of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and muscular fitness…
Numerous exocrine glands play key physiological roles in the body that include tearing, salivation, and lactation, as well as the control of body temperature via sweating. Malfunction of sweat glands can be deeply problematic or-in the case of anhidrosis-life-threatening. The prevalence of sweating disorders is high, affecting millions. The few available therapies are generally of limited effectiveness. Several li…
Open article record in new tab ↗Aims To describe differences in the expression of genes encoding cannabinoid receptors (CNR1, CNR2), the associated receptor GRP55 and the enzymes fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) and monoacylglycerol lipase (MGLL) between individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD) and controls in key mesocorticolimbic brain regions. Design Case-control, observational postmortem study comparing gene expression in brain tissue fr…
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is evolutionarily conserved and regulates key physiological processes, including sperm motility and capacitation. However, the localization and function of cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) in human sperm remain debated, with prior widefield microscopy studies producing inconsistent results. Using confocal and Airyscan microscopy, we mapped CB1 distribution in human sperm, revealing a d…
Photopharmacology is an emerging field in medicinal chemistry that seeks to control the pharmacological effects of target compounds using light. This approach addresses challenges such as limited receptor selectivity by enabling precise spatiotemporal control of therapeutic effects. The light-responsiveness is a central molecular feature used in photopharmacology to modulate the activity of various biological syst…
Gulf War Illness (GWI) affects 32% of Veterans from the 1990-1991 Gulf War. It is characterized by fatigue, mood disturbances, pain and cognitive decrements, with no FDA-approved treatment. This exploratory randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial evaluated the safety and efficacy of oleoylethanolamide (OEA) supplementation in 52 Veterans with GWI (mean age 59 ± 5 SD, 94% males and 79% White). Participan…
Hypertensionis one of the leading causes of cardiovascular disease and premature death worldwide, affecting more than 1.2 billion adults, with a significant part living in low- and middle-income countries. Pediatric hypertension is also a growing concern, with an estimated 4.5% of children in the United States affected. The 2024 European Society of Cardiology guidelines provide updated protocols for diagnosing and…
Open article record in new tab ↗