Saturday, February 13, 2010

February 2010: Cannabinoids affect level of hormone release from the brain. (Universidad de Buenos Aires; Buenos Aires, Argentina)

First some background: Most of the major hormones found in the body are regulated by and released from what is known as the hypothalamic-pituitary axis, involving two distinct but connected areas of the brain, the hypothalamus and pituitary gland. The hypothalamus is responsible for the production and release of hormones such as thyrotropin-releasing hormone, dopamine, growth hormone-releasing hormone, somatostatin, gonadotropin-releasing hormone, and corticotropin-releasing hormone. All of these hormones in turn act on the anterior pituitary gland causing release or inhibiting release at their respective sites of action. The other half of the pituitary gland, the posterior pituitary is responsible for the release of other hormones produced in the hypothalamus, oxytocin and vasopressin. Vasopressin, also known as anti-diuretic hormone, controls the level of hydration in the body. When released, vasopressin acts on the kidneys to increase re-absorption of water, thus decreasing the amount of urine produced. Oxytocin is known for its role in uterine contraction when giving birth and in stimulating the let-down of breast milk. Oxytocin levels also increase in both men and women during sexual arousal and especially during orgasm, which may play a role in mate selection by invoking feelings of contentment and repressing anxiety. Mutations in the gene coding for oxytocin have also been implicated as a cause of Autism.*

The new information: It was found that in hypothalamic magnocellular neurons, which are responsible for the production and release of oxytocin and vasopressin, there were significant numbers of cannabinoid receptors. This indicates that cannabinoids can modulate the production and release of these hormones. Additionally, when the brain was directly exposed to stressors, cannabinoids induced the secretion of oxytocin. The experiment was carried out by injecting lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a component of gram-negative bacterial membranes, into the brain. The LPS invokes an immune response that creates a level of stress in the brain by increasing inflammation. When the LPS was injected, there were increased levels of cannabinoids found in the brain, which lead to enhanced secretion of oxytocin.

What this means: This experiment illustrated one of the mechanisms of cannabis’ well-known anxiolytic effects. By stimulating the synthesis and release of oxytocin, cannabis can be effectively used to treat both general and specific anxiety disorders, mood disorders, as well as some symptoms of Autism. Additionally, because it was shown that cannabinoids have modulatory effects in the pituitary, it may be possible to treat certain forms of hypopituitarism using cannabis.

De Laurentiis, A., et al. “Endocannabinoid System Participates in Neuroendocrine Control of Homeostasis.” Neuroimmunomodulation. 17.3 (2010): 153-156.

*Jacob, S., et al. "Association of the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) in Caucasian children and adolescents with autism." Neuroscience Letters. 417.1 (2007): 6–9.

9 comments:

  1. Does long-term use, thus high tolerance to cannabinoids, affect the changes in oxytocin levels? After cannabinoid exposure, what is the duration of the higher oxytocin levels? After exposure, do oxytocin levels drop even further below the normal levels, resulting in even higher anxiety?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi, Ms. Branson. I'm not a neuroscientist, but I am doing my master's of psych and this particular area is of interest to me in treating psychiatric illnesses. I think it's important to recognize the difference in positive & negative affect (mood & anxiety levels) both prior to using cannabis with high CBD-content in a brain with a mental disorder (anxiety & depression) versus in brains that do not. I have experimented with CBD exposure on those with a persistent mental illness compared to those with no clear history of mental illness and the findings are incredibly different. As far as we know, CBD-rich strains remain anxiolytic throughout exposure, and do not impair oxytocin release once effects wear off. This hopefully answers your last question about the after effects and lower oxytocin levels/high anxiety. In a normal brain, feeling of commeraderie, talkativeness, peace and connection are promoted, however the most noted feedback from someone with moderate-severe anxiety & depressive disorders is the ABSENCE of anxiety and low-mood. It really is incredible. This is only when cannabis is used medicinally, so I have no idea if long-term recreational use still promotes this level of anti-anxiety/anti-depressant effects. I have begun treating my own symptoms of anxiety and depression with roughly 0.20 g of high CBD%, low THC% cannabis and the results are quite impressive.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi I just stumbled upon this article and it's very interesting to hear the positive neuro effect of cannabis on anxiety. However I was wondering if you had any insight into the suppression of vasopressin in the process of stimulating the hypothalamus, it's correlation to short term memory and the differentiation of effects from CBD and THC on this mechanism.

    Best regards,
    Andrew

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. DI'd you ever get an answer? This is the exact questions. We would all like to know.

      Delete
  4. Anyone buying the best growth hormone releaser has a few clear things in mind from the product. The goal of making such a purchase is to speed up the metabolism, enhance fat burning, improve mental clarity, enhance mood, elevate sex drive, and achieve a number of other incredible results.

    These results may all be possible when you buy the best of the best. However, buying a supplement that is not among the best could lead to being outright disappointed at the results…or lack results.

    ReplyDelete
  5. This is truly a great read for me. I have bookmarked it and I am looking forward to reading new articles. Keep up the good work!. cbd oil

    ReplyDelete
  6. the path to recovery. Marijuana Medical Handbook mentions that the power of marijuana to eliminate depression is the main medical benefit of the banned substance. click here

    ReplyDelete
  7. High levels of HGH speed up metabolism. This is why many people who want to lose weight and active individuals take HGH supplements.

    Additionally, growth hormone reduces body fat and increases muscle mass. The workout benefits of taking HGH releasers are obvious. Many people that try HGH for the first time report drastic improvement in workout results shortly after. full genf20 plus site

    ReplyDelete
  8. Nice post! So much good information to see..
    If you are searching a good warranty management software, then you should try NeuroWarranty. NeuroWarranty is a new age QR Code based Warranty Management Solution that fully automates the Warranty and offers unique benefits to amplify business growth. Visit below links to know more:

    Digital Warranty Management
    Warranty Management Services
    Warranty Management
    Warranty Tracking Software

    ReplyDelete