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Bányai B, Vass Z, Kiss S, Balogh A, Brandhuber D, Karvaly G, Kovács K, Nádasy GL, Hunyady L, Dörnyei G, Horváth EM, Szekeres M. Role of CB1 Cannabinoid Receptors in Vascular Responses and Vascular Remodeling of the Aorta in Female Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16429. [PMID: 38003619 PMCID: PMC10671338 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242216429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Both the endocannabinoid system (ECS) and estrogens have significant roles in cardiovascular control processes. Cannabinoid type 1 receptors (CB1Rs) mediate acute vasodilator and hypotensive effects, although their role in cardiovascular pathological conditions is still controversial. Estrogens exert cardiovascular protection in females. We aimed to study the impact of ECS on vascular functions. Experiments were performed on CB1R knockout (CB1R KO) and wild-type (WT) female mice. Plasma estrogen metabolite levels were determined. Abdominal aortas were isolated for myography and histology. Vascular effects of phenylephrine (Phe), angiotensin II, acetylcholine (Ach) and estradiol (E2) were obtained and repeated with inhibitors of nitric oxide synthase (NOS, Nω-nitro-L-arginine) and of cyclooxygenase (COX, indomethacin). Histological stainings (hematoxylin-eosin, resorcin-fuchsin) and immunostainings for endothelial NOS (eNOS), COX-2, estrogen receptors (ER-α, ER-β) were performed. Conjugated E2 levels were higher in CB1R KO compared to WT mice. Vasorelaxation responses to Ach and E2 were increased in CB1R KO mice, attenuated by NOS-inhibition. COX-inhibition decreased Phe-contractions, while it increased Ach-relaxation in the WT group but not in the CB1R KO. Effects of indomethacin on E2-relaxation in CB1R KO became opposite to that observed in WT. Histology revealed lower intima/media thickness and COX-2 density, higher eNOS and lower ER-β density in CB1R KO than in WT mice. CB1R KO female mice are characterized by increased vasorelaxation associated with increased utilization of endothelial NO and a decreased impact of constrictor prostanoids. Our results indicate that the absence or inhibition of CB1Rs may have beneficial vascular effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bálint Bányai
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, 37-47 Tűzoltó Street, 1094 Budapest, Hungary; (B.B.); (S.K.); (G.L.N.); (L.H.); (E.M.H.)
| | - Zsolt Vass
- Department of Morphology and Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Semmelweis University, 17 Vas Street, 1088 Budapest, Hungary; (Z.V.); (A.B.); (D.B.)
| | - Stella Kiss
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, 37-47 Tűzoltó Street, 1094 Budapest, Hungary; (B.B.); (S.K.); (G.L.N.); (L.H.); (E.M.H.)
- Department of Morphology and Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Semmelweis University, 17 Vas Street, 1088 Budapest, Hungary; (Z.V.); (A.B.); (D.B.)
| | - Anikó Balogh
- Department of Morphology and Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Semmelweis University, 17 Vas Street, 1088 Budapest, Hungary; (Z.V.); (A.B.); (D.B.)
| | - Dóra Brandhuber
- Department of Morphology and Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Semmelweis University, 17 Vas Street, 1088 Budapest, Hungary; (Z.V.); (A.B.); (D.B.)
| | - Gellért Karvaly
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, 4 Nagyvárad Square, 1089 Budapest, Hungary; (G.K.); (K.K.)
| | - Krisztián Kovács
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, 4 Nagyvárad Square, 1089 Budapest, Hungary; (G.K.); (K.K.)
| | - György L. Nádasy
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, 37-47 Tűzoltó Street, 1094 Budapest, Hungary; (B.B.); (S.K.); (G.L.N.); (L.H.); (E.M.H.)
| | - László Hunyady
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, 37-47 Tűzoltó Street, 1094 Budapest, Hungary; (B.B.); (S.K.); (G.L.N.); (L.H.); (E.M.H.)
- Institute of Enzymology, HUN-REN Research Centre for Natural Sciences, 2 Magyar Tudósok Körútja, 1117 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Gabriella Dörnyei
- Department of Morphology and Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Semmelweis University, 17 Vas Street, 1088 Budapest, Hungary; (Z.V.); (A.B.); (D.B.)
| | - Eszter Mária Horváth
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, 37-47 Tűzoltó Street, 1094 Budapest, Hungary; (B.B.); (S.K.); (G.L.N.); (L.H.); (E.M.H.)
| | - Mária Szekeres
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, 37-47 Tűzoltó Street, 1094 Budapest, Hungary; (B.B.); (S.K.); (G.L.N.); (L.H.); (E.M.H.)
- Department of Morphology and Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Semmelweis University, 17 Vas Street, 1088 Budapest, Hungary; (Z.V.); (A.B.); (D.B.)
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Dahlgren MK, El-Abboud C, Lambros AM, Sagar KA, Smith RT, Gruber SA. A survey of medical cannabis use during perimenopause and postmenopause. Menopause 2022; 29:1028-1036. [PMID: 35917529 PMCID: PMC9422771 DOI: 10.1097/gme.0000000000002018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Expanding access to legal cannabis has dovetailed with increased interest in medical cannabis (MC) use; however, there is a paucity of research examining MC use to alleviate menopause-related symptoms. This survey study assessed patterns of MC use in perimenopausal and postmenopausal individuals. METHODS Participants (perimenopausal, n = 131; postmenopausal, n = 127) completed assessments of menopause-related symptomatology and cannabis use, including modes of use, type of use, and menopause-related symptoms addressed by MC use. RESULTS Most participants reported current cannabis use (86.1%) and endorsed using MC for menopause-related symptoms (78.7%). The most common modes of use were smoking (84.3%) and edibles (78.3%), and the top menopause-related symptoms for MC use were sleep disturbance (67.4%) and mood/anxiety (46.1%). Relative to postmenopausal participants, perimenopausal participants reported significantly worse menopause-related symptomatology on the vasomotor and psychosocial subscales of the Menopause-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire ( P s ≤ 0.04), including greater burden of anxiety ( P = 0.01) and hot flash ( P = 0.04) symptoms. In addition, perimenopausal participants reported higher incidence of depression ( P = 0.03) and anxiety diagnoses ( P < 0.01), as well as increased use of MC to treat menopause-related mood/anxiety symptoms relative to postmenopausal participants ( P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Results suggest that many individuals are currently using MC as an adjunctive treatment for menopause-related symptoms, particularly sleep disturbance and mood/anxiety. Future research should examine the impact of different MC use characteristics (e.g., cannabinoid profiles) on the efficacy of MC use for menopause-related symptoms. Increased severity and prevalence of mood and anxiety symptoms in perimenopausal participants suggest promising targets for clinical trials of cannabinoid-based therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. Kathryn Dahlgren
- From the Cognitive and Clinical Neuroimaging Core, McLean Hospital Imaging Center, Belmont, MA
- Marijuana Investigations for Neuroscientific Discovery (MIND) Program, McLean Hospital Imaging Center, Belmont, MA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Celine El-Abboud
- From the Cognitive and Clinical Neuroimaging Core, McLean Hospital Imaging Center, Belmont, MA
- Marijuana Investigations for Neuroscientific Discovery (MIND) Program, McLean Hospital Imaging Center, Belmont, MA
| | - Ashley M. Lambros
- From the Cognitive and Clinical Neuroimaging Core, McLean Hospital Imaging Center, Belmont, MA
- Marijuana Investigations for Neuroscientific Discovery (MIND) Program, McLean Hospital Imaging Center, Belmont, MA
| | - Kelly A. Sagar
- From the Cognitive and Clinical Neuroimaging Core, McLean Hospital Imaging Center, Belmont, MA
- Marijuana Investigations for Neuroscientific Discovery (MIND) Program, McLean Hospital Imaging Center, Belmont, MA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Rosemary T. Smith
- From the Cognitive and Clinical Neuroimaging Core, McLean Hospital Imaging Center, Belmont, MA
- Marijuana Investigations for Neuroscientific Discovery (MIND) Program, McLean Hospital Imaging Center, Belmont, MA
| | - Staci A. Gruber
- From the Cognitive and Clinical Neuroimaging Core, McLean Hospital Imaging Center, Belmont, MA
- Marijuana Investigations for Neuroscientific Discovery (MIND) Program, McLean Hospital Imaging Center, Belmont, MA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
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