| Project/Area Number |
20791066
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
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| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
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| Research Field |
Anesthesiology/Resuscitation studies
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| Research Institution | Niigata University |
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Principal Investigator |
PETRENKO Andrey Niigata University, 医歯学系, 助教 (30397153)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2008 – 2009
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| Project Status |
Completed (Fiscal Year 2009)
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| Budget Amount *help |
¥2,860,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥660,000)
Fiscal Year 2009: ¥910,000 (Direct Cost: ¥700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥210,000)
Fiscal Year 2008: ¥1,950,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥450,000)
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| Keywords | 内在性カンナビノイド / モノアシルグリセロールリパーセ / 欠損マウス / 麻酔作用 / 抗侵害作用 |
|---|
| Research Abstract |
The herb Cannabis has been used in medicine from ancient times for its analgesic and sedative effects. These effects are caused by so-called cannabinoids contained in this plant. Our bodies can produce similar substances called endocannabinoids. One of the main endocannabinoids is called 2-AG and its action in the brain is terminated by enzyme called MGL. Drugs that inhibit MGL increase the concentration of 2-AG in the brain and cause beneficial effects, such as less pain. Therefore, MGL inhibitors are considered as promising candidates for the clinical use. Here, we used MGL-deficient mice to model the situation of prolonged MGL inhibitor use, such as could happen in chronic pain patients. We found that MGL-deficient mice become more sensitive to certain types of pain, which is supposedly because brain becomes less sensitive to 2-AG. This suggests that MGL inhibitors may not be well-suited for a long-term treatment of pain. Rather, they should be considered as a therapeutic option for short-lasting or acute pain episodes.
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