Montreal, Quebec: Raising the level of endocannabinoids released by the brain elevates mood, according to preclinical trial data published last month in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA. Endocannabinoids are marijuana-like chemicals produced naturally in humans and animals that bind to the same receptors as do plant-derived cannabinoids such as THC.
Researchers at the McGill University Health Center in Montreal found that the administration of the synthetic agent URB579 exerted “potent anti-depressant-like effects” in animals by blocking the degradation of endocannabinoids.
“This is the first time it has been shown that a drug that increases cannabinoids in the brain can improve your mood,” lead investigator Gabriella Gobbi stated.
Research published last year in the Journal of Psychopharmacology suggested that cannabis and cannabinoids exert anxiolytic and antidepressant effects, and recommended clinical trials investigating their use in the treatment of bipolar effective disorder.
Survey data published last summer in the journal Addictive Behaviors found that adults who use cannabis report suffering from less severe incidents and/or symptoms of depression than non-users.
Previous research on endocannabinoids and the endocannabinoid receptor system indicates that cannabinoids may play a role in maintaining homeostasis (metabolic equilibrium) in humans and other living organisms. Biological functions regulated by endocannabinoids include appetite, body temperature, blood pressure, bone density, reproductive activity, learning capacity, and motor coordination.
For more information, please contact Paul Armentano, NORML Senior Policy Analyst, at (202) 483-5500. Full text of the study, “Antidepressant-like activity and modulation of brain monoaminergic transmission by blockade of anandamide hydrolysis,” appears in the December 2005 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA.