Ulcerative colitis in AKR mice is attenuated by intraperitoneally administered anandamide

Anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive properties of endocannabinoids and synthetic cannabinoid compounds were described previously. We studied effects of the endogenous cannabinoid anandamide (N-arachidonylethanolamine) in experimental colitis induced by TNBS (2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid) in AKR mice. A scoring system was used to describe clinical and macroscopic changes. Intraperitoneally administered anandamide significantly reduced experimental colitis, quantified by macroscopical and histological scoring systems as well as pro-inflammatory cytokine mRNA expression. We conclude that systemically administered anandamide attenuates TNBS colitis in mice, and that systemically active cannabinoid compounds might have therapeutic potential for the treatment of IBD.