Tissue damage following cerebral ischemia results from the interaction of complex pathological processes such as excitotoxicity, peri-infarct depolarizations and inflammation as well as apoptosis. (Dirnagl 1999).
The discovery of the eCB signaling system with its ligands, membrane receptors and regulatory proteins has became potential new therapeutic targets in the fields of obesity, drug abuse, pain, stroke and hypertension. Moreover, neuroprotection is a relatively new area for cannabinoid agonists actions and render higher interest is present in medical research.
ACEA is a cannabinoid agonist that has demonstrated neuroprotective properties in different animal models of CNS injury (Bahremand et al., 2009). Other CB1 agonists, also have presented potential neuroprotective effects (Marchalant et al., 2007; Garcia-Arencibia et al., 2007; Docagne et al., 2007; Zani et al., 2007) and are also useful for the treatment of pain, spasticity, glaucoma among other disorders (Watson et al., 2000).
This study was designed to further ascertain the neuroprotective properties of the CB1 agonist following an ischemic stroke.
Using MCAo model in mice, we showed that the CB1R agonist, ACEA, is protective in those brain regions affected by the ischemic event. We also demonstrated that this protective action of ACEA is not simply transient or acute, but lasts for days. The basis for these effects on neuroprotection could be related with the cannabinoids properties on inflammation, free radical scavenging, inhibition of glutamate release and excitotoxicity (Van der Stelt and Di Marzo, 2005).
Direct occlusion of the distal MCA was performed. This model produces the persistent over-expression of the transcription factor Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alp...
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...S.A. 92 (12): 5510–5514.
Watson S., Benson J., Joy J., 2000. Marijuana and medicine: assessing the science base: a summary of the 1999 Institute of Medicine report. Arch. Gen. Psychiatry 57, 547-552.
Youssef F.F., Hormuzdi S.G., Irving A.J., Frenguelli B.G., 2007. Cannabinoid modulation of neuronal function after oxygen⁄glucose deprivation in area CA1 of the rat hippocampus. Neuropharmacology 52, 1327–1335.
Zani A., Braida D., Capurro V., Sala M., 2007. D-tet- rahydrocannabinol (THC) and AM 404 protect against cerebral ischaemia in gerbils through a mechanism involving cannabinoid and opioid receptors. Br J Pharmacol. 152, 1301–1311.
Zhang L., Schallert T., Gang Zhang Z., Jiang Q., Arniego P., Li Q., Lu M., Chopp M., 2002. A test for detecting long‐term sensorimotor dysfunction in the mouse after focal cerebral ischemia. Journal of
Neuroscience Methods 117; 207‐214.
After smoking, or consuming marijuana, it is distributed in the brain. The concentration of marijuana in the brain may be governed by an active transport process in the choroid plexus network of blood vessels in the brain which regulates intraventricular pressure by absorption and secretion of cerebro spinal fluid. one scientific experiment it gave an example of how the distribution of marijuana in the central nervous system could effect man. At a high dose of 30 mg./kg. marked sedation and pronounced motor incoordination peaked at the one hour interval subsiding in 8 hours when over reaction occurred to external stimuli; man reveals incapacitation of cognitive and motor function. High concentrations of marijuana are usually found in the following parts of the brain: the frontal cortex (the general association area), and hippocampus (short term memory and oreintation). As a result, perception of time, mood and general cordination is impaired. It is apparent that marijuana intoxication effects the neurological functions and usually disappears in 24 hours, but can become a permanent malfunction.THC effec...
Cannabidiol (CBD) has also been proven to reduce the number of convulsive seizures in children with a severe and
While cannabis still has its own risks, it’s overall a much safer option to treat chronic pain. Plus, when patients take the correct strain and dose, it doesn’t get them high. Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of the non-psychoactive elements of cannabis that balances out THC—the psychoactive component. Many strains are meant to help relieve pain as well as improve mental clarity so patients can go about their daily lives. Compared to recreational users, patients need miniscule amounts of medical cannabis to obtain relief.
There are at least two active chemicals in marijuana that have medicinal benefits. One chemical is cannabidiol (CBD), which appears to impact the brain without a high. The second chemical is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which has pain relieving and other properties.
Wingerchuk, Dean. "Cannabis for Medical Purposes: Cultivating Science, Weeding Out the Fiction." The Lancet 364.9431 (2004): 315-16. Print.
Marijuana is one of the oldest cultivated plants (Nahas 8). Since it became illegal in 1967, there have been questions of whether or not it is good for purposes, such as medicine, other than being a leisure drug. Debates between pro and con groups for the use of marijuana in the medical profession, have been heated and in recent months, referendums have been pasted in a least three states to make it accessible for medical treatment. Personally, I feel that marijuana has the potential to be a significant help with certain aliments, however, more research needs to be done to maximize its potential.
THC causes the high feeling, but also reduces nausea, increases appetite, decreases inflammation, pain, and muscle problems. CBD can reduce pain and control epileptic seizures (“Is Marijuana Medicine”). There are dozens of other problems marijuana can help with, including: HIV/AIDS, Alzheimer’s, glaucoma, Tourette syndrome, cancers, arthritis, and more. Treating these conditions doesn’t even mean you need to smoke cannabis or eat pot brownies, you don’t even need to get high. Using the chemicals and oils, like CBD, extracted from a cannabis plant, patients only need to take a drink, like a shot of cough syrup, to get the benefits without feeling high! The Culture High shares a story about a young boy named Jayden. When Jayden was not even 4 years old yet, he was having about 500 mini-seizures every day. By 4 ½ years old, Jayden was taking 22 pills per day. By 5 years old, he had consumed over 25,000 pills. When the outlook wasn’t getting better for Jayden, his father sought emergency medical advice. His father brought up medicinal marijuana and his doctor agreed anything was worth a shot. The first day Jayden used cannabidiol as medicine, he had his first seizure-free day. Jayden continued to use medicinal marijuana and
The human body produces naturally occurring cannabinoids. The cannabinoids are lipophilic. Delta-8 and Delta-9 Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) have been found to produce most of the psychoactive effects of marijuana (Carter et al., 2003). Delta-9 Tetrahydrocannabinol appears to be the most abundant cannabinoid and the main source of cannabis' impact. Cannabidiol is
Brain death occurs when there is a loss of all brain and brain stem function due to damaged brain cells. It is often termed as an irreversible coma as the damaged cells cannot regenerate themselves and a patient is stuck in a coma-like state. (Wilson and Christensen, 2014)
Kalant, Harold. “Medicinal Use of Cannabis: History and Current States.” Pain Research and Management 6.2 (2001): 80-94. Web. 18 Mar. 2014.
Earlywine, Mitchell. Understanding Marijuana: A new look at the scientific evidence. New York Oxford University Press. 2002.
Medically, marijuana has proven to be a productive drug. Studies show marijuana has helped dealing with “pain, muscle spasms, seizure disorders and nausea from cancer chemotherapy.” (Weir) Scientist believes these benefits come from a chemical compound in marijuana called cannabidiol. This chemical is not the active chemical that gives marijuana users the mind-altering effects. With the unce...
The nature and extent of damage depends on the size and location of the affected blood vessels. b) Like all organs, the brain needs the oxygen and nutrients provided by blood to function properly. If the supply of blood is restricted or stopped, brain cells begin to die. This can lead to brain injury, disability, and possibly death. There are two main causes of strokes: ischaemic – where the blood supply is stopped due to a blood clot (this accounts for 85% of all cases) haemorrhagic – where a weakened blood vessel supplying the brain bursts.
Stanley, Janet E., Stanley J. Watson, and John A. Benson. Marijuana and Medicine: Assessing the Science Base. Washington D.C.: National Academy P, 1999.
THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is the chemical responsible for most of marijuana’s psychological effects. It acts much like the cannabinoid chemicals made naturally by the body. Cannabinoid receptors are concentrated in certain areas of the brain associated with thinking, memory, pleasure, coordination, and time perception. THC attaches to these receptors and activates them and affect’s a person’s memory, pleasure, movements, thinking, concentration, coordination, and sensory and time perception. The main benefit is the pleasure it brings. Not only is it enormously relaxing, but can greatly enhance the pleasure of sensory activities, such as eating, listening to music, and having sex.