Time-Dependent Vascular Effects of Endocannabinoids Mediated by Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma (PPAR𝛾)

The aim of the present study was to examine whether endocannabinoids cause PPAR𝛾-mediated vascular actions. Functional vascular studies were carried out in rat aortae. Anandamide and N-arachidonoyl-dopamine (NADA), but not palmitoylethanolamide, caused significant vasorelaxation over time (2 hours...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Saoirse E. O'Sullivan, David A. Kendall, Michael D. Randall
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Hindawi Limited 2009-01-01
Series:PPAR Research
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2009/425289
Description
Summary:The aim of the present study was to examine whether endocannabinoids cause PPAR𝛾-mediated vascular actions. Functional vascular studies were carried out in rat aortae. Anandamide and N-arachidonoyl-dopamine (NADA), but not palmitoylethanolamide, caused significant vasorelaxation over time (2 hours). Vasorelaxation to NADA, but not anandamide, was inhibited by CB1 receptor antagonism (AM251, 1 𝜇M), and vasorelaxation to both anandamide and NADA was inhibited by PPAR𝛾 antagonism (GW9662, 1 𝜇M). Pharmacological inhibition of de novo protein synthesis, nitric oxide synthase, and super oxide dismutase abolished the responses to anandamide and NADA. Removal of the endothelium partly inhibited the vasorelaxant responses to anandamide and NADA. Inhibition of fatty acid amide hydrolase (URB597, 1 𝜇M) inhibited the vasorelaxant response to NADA, but not anandamide. These data indicate that endocannabinoids cause time-dependent, PPAR𝛾-mediated vasorelaxation. Activation of PPAR𝛾 in the vasculature may represent a novel mechanism by which endocannabinoids are involved in vascular regulation.
ISSN:1687-4757
1687-4765