Anandamide

Anandamide is an endogenous lipid signaling molecule that activates cannabinoid receptors. Its signaling contributes to regulation of appetite, pain, mood, and memory.

Endocannabinoid system: A signaling system comprising cannabinoid receptors, endogenous ligands, and enzymes that synthesize and break them down. Anandamide is one of this system’s endogenous ligands.
Pain modulation: The regulation of pain signals by neural and physiological processes. Anandamide signaling can suppress pain transmission through cannabinoid receptors.
Raphael Mechoulam: An Israeli organic chemist whose research helped establish the chemistry of cannabinoids and endocannabinoids. His research group reported anandamide’s identification in 1992.
Endocannabinoid tone: The overall level and activity of endocannabinoid signaling in a tissue or organism. Anandamide contributes to this dynamic signal, whose measurement and interpretation remain challenging.
Cannabinoid receptor type 1: A G protein-coupled receptor abundant in the brain that responds to endocannabinoids and plant-derived cannabinoids. Anandamide activates this receptor to alter neuronal signaling.
Appetite: The physiological drive to seek and consume food. Cannabinoid receptor activation by anandamide can influence feeding behavior.
William Devane: An American pharmacologist who contributed to the identification of anandamide. He was a coauthor of the 1992 report describing the molecule.
Endocannabinoid reuptake: The proposed cellular uptake of endocannabinoids from extracellular space for subsequent metabolism. The mechanisms of anandamide uptake remain debated alongside its enzymatic breakdown.
Cannabinoid receptor type 2: A G protein-coupled receptor found mainly in immune cells and also in some nervous-system tissues. Anandamide can activate this receptor, linking its signaling to immune functions.
Memory: The encoding, storage, and retrieval of information by the nervous system. Anandamide signaling helps regulate synaptic processes involved in memory.

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NemerteaRelated: Related compounds identified in ribbon-worm toxins have prompted pharmacological study.