Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UNIPROT:Q9UIJ5 (Rec)
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Nonmyelinated (C-) fibers represent the majority of vagal afferents innervating the airways and lung, and play an important role in regulating the respiratory and cardiovascular functions under both normal and abnormal physiologic conditions. Studies of the relationship between the conduction velocities of the vagal afferents and their sensitivities to capsaicin and other chemical irritants reveal that C-fibers are the primary type of chemosensitive afferents in the rat lung. Furthermore, a distinct sensitivity to capsaicin and a weak response to lung inflation are the defining characteristics of these afferents. In cultured rat nodose and jugular ganglion neurons, capsaicin-sensitive cells were identified by measurement of the capsaicin-evoked calcium transients using the Fura-2-based ratiometric imaging technique. The percentage of capsaicin-sensitive neurons gradually decreases as the cell diameter increases. However, the capsaicin-sensitive neurons cannot be precisely identified solely on the basis of the cell size. Anandamide, an endogenous cannabinoid released from leukocytes and epithelial cells, consistently evokes a stimulatory effect on pulmonary C-fiber endings by activating vanilloid receptor type 1 (VR1). The discharge pattern of pulmonary C-fibers evoked by anandamide closely resembles that produced by a much lower ( approximately 1/600) dose of capsaicin in the same fibers. Whether anandamide acts as a potential endogenous ligand to VR1 at the C-fiber terminals is unclear, and the physiological role of VR1 in modulating the transduction properties of these afferents also remains to be determined.
Anat Rec A Discov Mol Cell Evol Biol 2003 Jan
PMID:Functional morphology and physiological properties of bronchopulmonary C-fiber afferents. 1249 86

Recently, the endocannabinoid (EC) system and the presence of CB1 receptor (CB1-R), have been identified in human sperm. However, the effects of EC receptor ligands such as anandamide (N-arachidonoylethanolamine) and the role of EC system in male fertility is still largely unexplored. In the present study, we investigated the ultrastructural compartmentalization of CB1-R and analyzed the effects of its stimulation by using a stable analog of anandamide, 2-methylarachidonyl-2'-fluoro-ethylamide (MET-F-AEA). We focused particularly on sperm survival and acrosin activity. The study of human sperm anatomy by transmission electron microscopy with immunogold analysis revealed the location of the CB1-R prevalently in the sperm membranes of the head and interestingly on the mitochondria. The effect of different concentrations of MET-F-AEA from 100 nM to 1 microM evidenced a significant decrease of sperm survival. Interestingly, we analyzed this negative effect at molecular level, testing the EC action on different known sperm survival targets. MET-F-AEA-treatment decreased both pBCL2 and pAkt, two prosurvival proteins, and increased pPTEN expression which is the main regulator of the PI3K/Akt pathway. Moreover, a biphasic effect was observed with increasing MET-F-AEA concentrations on the acrosin activity. The blockage of the CB1-R by using its selective antagonist SR141716 (rimonabant) induced an opposite action on sperm survival supporting a role for this receptor in the biology of the male gamete.
Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2010 Feb
PMID:Human sperm anatomy: ultrastructural localization of the cannabinoid1 receptor and a potential role of anandamide in sperm survival and acrosome reaction. 1993 10