The endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) and metabolizing enzymes during rat fetoplacental development: A role in uterine remodelling

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2010

Authors

Fonseca, BM (Author) Other; Correia da Silva, G (Author) FFUP; Taylor, AH (Author) Other; Lam, PMW (Author) Other; Marczylo, TH (Author) Other; Bell, SC (Author) Other; Konje, JC (Author) Other; Teixeira, NA (Author) FFUP

Journal

Title: International Journal of Biochemistry and Cell Biology

Vol. 42 No. 11

Pages: 1884-1892

ISSN: 1357-2725

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 24 Citations

Scopus - 28 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Natural sciences > Biological sciences

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-003-1DW

DOI: 10.1016/j.biocel.2010.08.006

Abstract (EN): The main endocannabinoids (EC) identified in mammalian tissues are N-arachidonoylethanolamide (AEA, anandamide), and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG). AEA levels are critical in pregnancy, especially during implantation, decidualization, and placental development. As 2-AG functions in pregnancy are still largely undefined, we hypothesized that it may also have a role during fetoplacental development. We showed that 2-AG is not only present in the rat mesometrial decidua and plasma during fetoplacental development, but that both 2-AG synthesizing (diacylglycerol lipase) and degradation (monoacylglycerol lipase) enzymes are expressed by decidual cells. While lower concentrations of 2-AG induced apoptosis of rat primary decidual cells, via the CB1 receptor, higher concentrations induced a dramatic effect on cell morphology, cell viability and lactate dehydrogenase release, triggered through a mechanism independent of CBI. This study provides evidences that 2-AG fluctuation in maternal tissues throughout normal pregnancy is primarily regulated by its metabolizing enzymes. Together, these data supports the hypothesis that a deregulation of the endocannabinoid system through aberrant cannabinoid signalling may impact normal uterine remodelling process and consequently normal pregnancy.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 9