Marijuana mimic reveals brain role

A natural brain chemical that mimics the active ingredient of marijuana inhibits nerve cells that trigger physical actions.

References:

Giuffrida, A. . . . and D. Piomelli. 1999. Dopamine activation of endogenous cannabinoid signaling in dorsal striatum. Nature Neuroscience 2(April):358.

Self, D.W. 1999. Anandamide: A candidate neurotransmitter heads for the big leagues. Nature Neuroscience 2(April):303.

Sources:

Daniele Piomelli
University of California, Irvine
Department of Pharmacology
360 Med Surge II
Irvine, CA 92697-4625

David W. Self
Yale University School of Medicine
Division of Molecular Psychiatry
Connecticut Mental Health Center
34 Park Street
New Haven, CT 06508

From Science News, Vol. 155, No. 14, April 3, 1999, p. 215. Copyright © 1999, Science Service.

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