Does modulation of the endocannabinoid system have potential therapeutic utility in cerebellar ataxia?

Stephens, G. J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8966-4238 (2016) Does modulation of the endocannabinoid system have potential therapeutic utility in cerebellar ataxia? Journal of Physiology, 594 (16). pp. 4631-4641. ISSN 1469-7793 doi: 10.1113/JP271106

Abstract/Summary

Cerebellar ataxias represent a spectrum of disorders which are, however, linked by common symptoms of motor incoordination and are typically associated with deficient in Purkinje cell firing activity and, often, degeneration. Cerebellar ataxias currently lack a curative agent. The endocannabinoid (eCB) system includes eCB compounds and their associated metabolic enzymes, together with cannabinoid receptors, predominantly the cannabinoid CB1 receptor (CB1R) in the cerebellum; activation of this system in the cerebellar cortex is associated with deficits in motor coordination characteristic of ataxia, effects which can be prevented by CB1R antagonists. Of further interest are various findings that CB1R deficits may also induce a progressive ataxic phenotype. Together these studies suggest that motor coordination is reliant on maintaining the correct balance in eCB system signalling. Recent work also demonstrates deficient cannabinoid signalling in the mouse ‘ducky2J’ model of ataxia. In light of these points, the potential mechanisms whereby cannabinoids may modulate the eCB system to ameliorate dysfunction associated with cerebellar ataxias are considered.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/60079
Item Type	Article
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Interdisciplinary Research Centres (IDRCs) > Centre for Integrative Neuroscience and Neurodynamics (CINN) Life Sciences > School of Chemistry, Food and Pharmacy > School of Pharmacy > Division of Pharmacology
Publisher	Wiley-Blackwell
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