Canna~Fangled Abstracts

Cannabinoids and Sleep/Wake Control

By February 4, 2021No Comments
Nowadays, enough evidence has been cumulated to support the endocannabinoid system role in the sleep-wake cycle regulation.
. 2021;1297:83-95.

doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-61663-2_6.

Mónica Méndez-Díaz 1, Alejandra E Ruiz-Contreras 2, Jacqueline Cortés-Morelos 3, Oscar Prospéro-García 4
Affiliations 

Abstract

The sleep-wake cycle is a complex process that includes wake (W), non-rapid-eye-movement (NREM) and rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep. Each phase is regulated by specialized brain structures that, by means of different neurotransmitters, maintain the constant expression of the sleep-wake cycle. Molecules like orexin, serotonin, noradrenaline, histamine, for waking; GABA, adenosine, prostaglandins, for NREM sleep and acetylcholine and glutamate for REM sleep, among other molecules are responsible for the expression and maintenance of each phase. When the endocannabinoid system was being described for the first time, almost three decades ago, oleamide’s sleep promoting properties were highlighted. Nowadays, enough evidence has been cumulated to support the endocannabinoid system role in the sleep-wake cycle regulation. The endocannabinoids oleamide anandamide, and 2-arachidonylglycerol promote NREM and/or REM sleep via the CB1R, thereby making this system a target to treat sleep disorders, such as insomnia.

 

Keywords: 2-arachidonylglycerol, Anadamide, Cannabinoid receptor 1, Insomnia, Non-rapid-eye-movement (NREM) sleep, Oleamide, Rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep

References

    1. Amancio-Belmont O, Romano-López A, Ruiz-Contreras AE, Méndez-Díaz M, Prospéro-García O (2017, Sep) From adolescent to elder rats: motivation for palatable food and cannabinoids receptors. Dev Neurobiol 77(8):917–927. https://doi.org/10.1002/dneu.22472 – DOI – PubMed
    1. Ashton CH, Moore PB (2011, Oct) Endocannabinoid system dysfunction in mood and related disorders. Acta Psychiatr Scand 124(4):250–261. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0447.2011.01687.x – DOI – PubMed
    1. Atalay H (2011) Comorbidity of insomnia detected by the Pittsburgh sleep quality index with anxiety, depression and personality disorders. Isr J Psychiatry Relat Sci 48(1):54–59 – PubMed
    1. Augner C (2011, Jun) Associations of subjective sleep quality with depression score, anxiety, physical symptoms and sleep onset latency in students. Cent Eur J Public Health 19(2):115–117 – DOI
    1. Barratt ES, Beaver W, White R (1974, Feb) The effects of marijuana on human sleep patterns. Biol Psychiatry 8(1):47–54 – PubMed

Leave a Reply