Abstract

Arachidonylethanolamide, an arachidonic acid derivative in porcine brain, was identified in a screen for endogenous ligands for the cannabinoid receptor. The structure of this compound, which has been named “anandamide,” was determined by mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and was confirmed by synthesis. Anan­damide inhibited the specific binding of a radiolabeled cannabinoid probe to synaptosomal membranes in a manner typical of competitive ligands and produced a concentration­dependent inhibition of the electrically evoked twitch response of the mouse vas deferens, a characteristic effect of psychotropic cannabinoids. These properties suggest that anan­damide may function as a natural ligand for the cannabinoid receptor.


Authors
Lumír Ondřej Hanuš, Graeme Griffin, Dan Gibson, Asher Mandelbaum, Alexander Etinger, R Mechoulam
Publication date
December, 1992
Journal
Science
Volume
258
Issue
5090

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Keywords