DETECTION OF AN ENDOGENOUS CANNABIMIMETIC MOLECULE, 2-ARACHIDONOYLGLYCEROL, AND CANNABINOID CB1 RECEPTOR MESSENGER-RNA IN HUMAN VASCULAR CELLS - IS 2-ARACHIDONOYLGLYCEROL A POSSIBLE VASOMODULATOR

Human vascular endothelial cells were found to generate and release 2- arachidonoylglycerol, an endogenous cannabinoid receptor ligand, upon stimulation with thrombin or A23187. We confirmed that vascular smooth muscle cells as well as endothelial cells possess cannabinoid CB1 rec eptor mRNA. 2-Arachidonoylglycerol, generated in vascular tissues, may play an important role in modulating vascular tone through acting on the cannabinoid CB1 receptor expressed on vascular smooth muscle cells , endothelial cells as well as peripheral nerve terminals. (C) 1998 Ac ademic Press.