Endocrine Abstracts

Visceral fat (VAT) may represent the more important site of endocannabinoid dysregulation in obesity. No data are available on the expression of the ECs in morbid obesity. Eleven morbidly obese women, who underwent bariatric surgery, were enrolled and paired samples of VAT and subcutaneous fat tissue (SAT) were obtained from each patient. Real-Time PCR for the gene expression levels of cannabinoid type 1 (CB1) receptor, N-acyl-phosphatidil-ethanolamine (NAPE), and fatty...

It is well known that cannabinoid type 1 receptor (CB1) antagonist drugs may reduce body weight and improve metabolic profiles in obese animals and humans by a double mechanism: at first, targeting mesolimbic and hypothalamic nuclei and, thereafter, peripheral organs involved in energy storage and expenditure. However, it is still unknown which of these sites of action may have a predominant role in the endocannabinoid effect on energy balance regulation. To solve this questio...

The endocannabinoid system has recently emerged as an important modulator of several functions of adipose tissue by altering cell proliferation and gene expression. In this work, we investigated the effects of CB1 activation/blockade in mouse 3T3-L1 adypocite cells by using WIN55,212, a CB1/CB2 agonist and rimonabant, a specific CB1 antagonist, in different experimental settings such as acute treatment on pre-adipocytes and on mature adipocytes, and chronic treatment during di...

Aims: Recently, the endocannabinoid system emerged as a pivotal regulator of food intake, ingestive behavior and energy metabolism, acting through CB1 and its endogenous ligands, the endocannabinoids. CB1 antagonists may reduce body weight and improve metabolic profiles in animals and humans by a double mechanism: at first, they target mesolimbic and hypothalamic nuclei and, thereafter, peripheral organs involved in energy storage and expenditure. Nevertheless, it is still unk...