Quote Originally Posted by 420mory
Scientists have long known that the brain possesses natural chemicals similar to marijuana. While little is known about their precise function in the brain, studies suggest that these compounds, known as cannabinoids, and the receptors they bind to, play a role in diseases, including schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease, and obesity.

Now researchers at Johns Hopkins University have developed a way to image cannabinoid receptors in living animals. The tool will help scientists figure out how these receptors are altered in drug addiction and disease, as well as helping pharmaceutical companies to design drugs that better target this system.



Scientists will also be able to study disorders that have been linked to the cannabinoid system, such as schizophrenia and Parkinson's disease. For example, smoking marijuana appears to precipitate symptoms of schizophrenia. Furthermore, schizophrenics seem to have higher levels of cannabinoids in their brains. But animal studies of these diseases have produced conflicting results, says Andrea Giuffrida, a neuroscientist at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. The new imaging method, he says, "will be useful to understand exactly what's going on."




What is the date on this study?

This is the latest, where they administered an inverse agonist on the CB1 receptors, causing the rats to decline in body mass.

The cannabinoid CB(1) receptor inverse agonist, rimonabant, modifies body weight and adiponectin function in diet-induced obese rats as a consequence of reduced food intake.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/q...=pubmed_docsum

In 2004, these were the headlines:
NORML, New Zealand:
Cannabis, schizophrenia link refuted
http://www.norml.org.nz/article476.html
About MarijuanaAug 20, 2004

ScienceDaily:
Study Finds Cannabis Triggers Transient Schizophrenia-like Symptoms
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...0615075809.htm
Posted: June 15, 2004
beachguy in thongs Reviewed by beachguy in thongs on . A new imaging method could show how cannabinoids affect diseases like schizophrenia Scientists have long known that the brain possesses natural chemicals similar to marijuana. While little is known about their precise function in the brain, studies suggest that these compounds, known as cannabinoids, and the receptors they bind to, play a role in diseases, including schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease, and obesity. Now researchers at Johns Hopkins University have developed a way to image cannabinoid receptors in living animals. The tool will help scientists figure out how Rating: 5