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The endocannabinoid system and stroke: A focused review.

Authors:

Bradley Kolb, Hamidreza Saber, Hassan Fadel, Gary Rajah


Published in Brain Circulation

January-March 2019

 

Abstract

Stroke is an important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Development of novel neuroprotectants is of paramount importance. This review seeks to summarize the recent evidence for the role of the endocannabinoid signaling system in stroke pathophysiology, as well as the evidence from preclinical studies regarding the efficacy of cannabinoids as neuroprotective therapies in the treatment of stroke. Recent evidence from rodent models implicating cannabinoid 1 receptor (CB1R), cannabinoid 2 receptor (CB2R), and CB1R and CB2R co-antagonism as neuroprotective strategies in stroke are reviewed. Rodent evidence for the therapeutic role of the endocannabinoid system in treating poststroke depression is reviewed. Finally, evidence for the role of cannabidiol, a publicly available cannabinoid that does not bind directly to known endocannabinoid receptors, as a stroke neuroprotectant is also reviewed. The review closes with a consideration of the role of human cannabinoid abuse in stroke and considers future directions for research on endocannabinoid-based stroke therapeutics.

 

DOI: 10.4103/bc.bc_29_18

Free PMC Article

Citation:

Kolb B, Saber H, Fadel H, Rajah G. The endocannabinoid system and stroke: A focused review. Brain Circ. 2019;5(1):1. doi:10.4103/bc.bc_29_18