Review

Dynamic regulation of the endocannabinoid system: implications for analgesia

Devi Rani Sagar , A Gemma Gaw , Bright N Okine , Stephen G Woodhams , Amy Wong , David A Kendall and Victoria Chapman

School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK

author email corresponding author email

Molecular Pain 2009, 5:59doi:10.1186/1744-8069-5-59

Published:	8 October 2009

Abstract

The analgesic effects of cannabinoids are well documented, but these are often limited by psychoactive side-effects. Recent studies indicate that the endocannabinoid system is dynamic and altered under different pathological conditions, including pain states. Changes in this receptor system include altered expression of receptors, differential synthetic pathways for endocannabinoids are expressed by various cell types, multiple pathways of catabolism and the generation of biologically active metabolites, which may be engaged under different conditions. This review discusses the evidence that pain states alter the endocannabinoid receptor system at key sites involved in pain processing and how these changes may inform the development of cannabinoid-based analgesics.