Posted by Caleb462 on September 27, 2003, at 0:42:28
In reply to Questions to Caleb462 and Re to NikkiT2, posted by DayByDay on September 26, 2003, at 16:15:54
> > Like a previous poster said, there are specific receptors in the brain (cannabanoid receptors) that THC attaches to. Cannabanoid receptors are not well understood, in comparison to some other brain receptors at least.
> >
> > However, I do know that THC has been shown to inhibit the release of the neurotransmitters acetylcholine and norepinephrine. It also has conflicting effects on GABA (potentiates GABA in some area's of the brain while inhibiting GABA release in other areas). I believe dopamine release does occur from THC as well, but probably on a much smaller scale than other addictive drugs.
>
> Thanks for the information Caleb462, it was new
> to me. My question is what the practical effects
> of these changes are?
>
> Are they minor or major and how relavant are they?Not quite sure, but I know the effect on acetylcholine by cannabis is quite profound.
> What function has acetylcholine?Acetylcholine has many functions in the body, one of the most prominent being memory. It also controls digestive processes and various other things, which I can't recall right now. Cannabis's profound effect on short-term memory is due to the inhibition of acetylcholine release in the hippocampus. The "cottonmouth" effect of marijuana is probably also due to anti-chollinergic effects of cannabis. Dry mouth is one of the most well-known side effects of anti-chollinergic drugs (tricyclic anti-depressants, for instance).
> Even though it doesnŽt seem like an spelling error IŽll ask you just in case: do you mean norephedrine (noradrenaline) by norepinephrine,I mean noradrenaline, yes. Noradrenaline and norepinephrine is the same chemical, it just goes by two different names. Norephedrine is somethingly completely different, and is not a neurotransmitter.
> Anyway if it is norepinephrine then what fuction does it have?Again, I'm no expert - but norepinephrine is one of the body's "activating" chemicals. Concentration, drive, energy, stamina and possibly mood, these things probably all have connections to norepinephrine. I would assume that marijuana's anti-noradrenergic effects lead to the tiredness, lethargy and low motivation marijuana can induce.
> Then finally the GABA effects how would they interfere with other GABA drugs like anticonvulsants?Really have no idea, but cannabis has been shown to have anti-convulsant effects itself - so I assume cannabis would potentiate the effect of other anti-convulsants.
poster:Caleb462
thread:263379
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030923/msgs/263668.html