Anandamide: the effects of this neurotransmitter on the brain
Serotonin, dopamine, noradrenaline, glutamate ... They are some of the most popular and popular neurotransmitters among those who travel the nervous system of our body, allowing neurons to communicate with each other. But are not the only ones.
And is that there are many substances that are not often talked about so often and yet play an important role in our daily lives. One of them is anandamide , of which we are going to talk throughout this article.
- Related article: "Types of neurotransmitters: functions and classification"
Anandamide: what is this substance?
Anandamide, also known as arachidonoylethanolamide or AEA, is one of the multiple chemical compounds that our body manufactures endogenously. It is an endogenous lipid with a high affinity for cannabinoid receptors. In fact, it is considered one of the best known eicosanoid endocannabinoids (fatty acid derivatives) and the second to be found in greater quantity. Discovered in 1992, the name of this lipid derives from the Sanskrit word for happiness or peace bearer, "ananda", due to the effects and relaxation it generates, and is composed of arachidonic acid and ethanolamine.
Brief life and easy degraded, anandamide It is a fragile molecule whose effects have short duration in the human body . This substance is linked, like the rest of cannabinoids, to sedation, to the reduction of vomiting and the provocation of hunger, to an improvement of respiratory function and to relaxation. as well as some problems of concentration, of the perception of time and even of memory.
It is a substance that is not produced in a region of the brain in particular, if not it is secreted by the membrane of neurons , and it has been located in different regions of the organism, both inside and outside the brain. Its presence is usual in thalamus, hippocampus, basal ganglia and cerebellum, as well as in spleen and heart. Their receptors are thus widely distributed, being linked to the protein G.
On the other hand, anandamide It can also be acquired by consuming different foods . Some of its best known natural sources are cocoa and chocolate, with anandamida being one of the main elements that makes most people seem so nice. In the same way, it is present in some fish and their eggs, or in sea urchins.
Synthesis and uptake of anandamide
Anandamide is an endocannabinoid that originates in the membrane of neurons from the hydrolysis of a precursor, a phospholipid called N-arachidonoyl phosphatylethanolamine (or NAPE) derived from the archaedonic acid proper to said membrane. This synthesis is produced thanks to the enzyme phospholipase D , also joining ethanolamine to end up configuring the anandamide. Anandamide is characterized by being generated only at the moment it is going to be released, unlike other neurotransmitters that are previously manufactured and stored until the moment of their transmission. It is usually generated by the postsynaptic neuron, in a retrograde manner, generating a stimulation or inhibition of the production of neurotransmitters in the presynaptic.
At that time, this substance is released into the synaptic space, to be subsequently received by both neurons and glial cells. Once captured, it is degraded to ethanolamine and arachidonic acid, being then reincorporated into the lipids of the membrane. This substance is then rapidly metabolized by the body, disappearing in a short period of time.
Functions of anandamide
Anandamide is a very useful substance for our body, which has important roles in our brain and body functioning. Although many of them have already been mentioned before, we will look at them in greater depth. Among the many functions or roles of anandamida, the following stand out.
1. Homeostasis
As part of the endocannabinoid system , anandamide has a relevant role in preserving body homeostasis, influencing and modulating nerve transmission and interacting with multiple systems and neurotransmitters. Among others, it can inhibit the synthesis of GABA and glutamate. It also participates in decreasing eye pressure.
2. Modulate the pain
Like the other cannabinoids, one of the main and most recognized functions of cannabinoids is to modulate and generate a decrease in the sensation of pain before an injury , having an analgesic effect.
3. Prevent cell proliferation
Another of the actions carried out by anandamide, and which in fact continues to be researched and generated a great interest, the fact that its action prevents or diminishes the cellular proliferation of cancer cells, causing the death of said cells. This has been specially investigated in melanomas .
4. It has a neuroprotective effect
Cannabinoids also have a neuroprotective effect by having the ability to decrease the excitation of the nervous system, which in turn has protective effects towards excitotoxicity .
5. Stimulate hunger
Anandamide and the set of endocannabinoids alter and modulate the diet, being in close interaction with leptin. While the second is one of the main hormones that regulates satiety, anandamide stimulates the appetite and generates the search for food. Anandamide would generate an effect in the form of loss or loss of appetite . If there is an increase in leptin, this leads to a reduction in the levels of anandamide in the hypothalamus.
6. Has anti-emetic effect
As with cannabis, anandamide has an antiemetic effect. That is, it inhibits vomiting by interacting with serotonin.
7. Modulate sexual behavior
One of the interactions that anandamide has is with sex hormones . Apparently, in this sense, anandamide has a biphasic response: small amounts stimulate sexual activity, while high doses inhibit it.
8. Influences pregnancy
Some studies associate a very relevant role to anandamide when generating the implantation of the embryo in the epithelium of the uterus .
9. Participate in the motivation
In experiments with mice, it was observed that anandamide apparently contributes to motivation and decision making, accelerating it and generating greater capacity for action and reaction in order to seek solutions.
10. A role in learning and memory
The functioning of anandamide in the brain has also been seen related to the capacity of learning and memory , being frequently associated with the areas that handle memory, such as the hippocampus. In principle, it facilitates the creation of new brain connections and the elimination of old ones. However, some models with animals seem to indicate that it can generate memory problems.
11. Linking with feelings of relaxation and happiness
The name of this substance, as we said at the beginning of the article, is linked to the idea of peace, relaxation and happiness. It is associated with pleasure. It also generates a distortion of temporal perception.
Bibliographic references
- Escobar, I.E .; Berrouet, M.C. and González, D.M. (2009). Molecular mechanisms of addiction to marijuana. Colombian Journal of Psychiatry, 38 (1).
- Spanish Society of Cannabinoid Research (2002). Basic Guide on Cannabinoids. Ministry of Interior. Spain.
- Zone, L.C .; Fry, B.R .; LaLonde, J.A. & Cromw, H.C (2017). Effects of anandamide administration on components of reward processing during free choice. Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior, 158: 14-21.
