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Related Concept Videos

Drugs Affecting Neurotransmitter Release or Uptake01:21

Drugs Affecting Neurotransmitter Release or Uptake

Certain drugs can affect how neurotransmitters called catecholamines, are released or taken back up in the adrenergic neuron. They can have different effects on the body's sympathetic transmission. Reserpine, a natural compound found in the Rauwolfia shrub, blocks a transporter called vesicular monoamine transporter (VMAT), which leads to a buildup of catecholamines in the cell and reduces sympathetic transmission. Another drug called guanethidine works in multiple ways, including blocking...
Drug Absorption Mechanism: Carrier-Mediated Membrane Transport01:19

Drug Absorption Mechanism: Carrier-Mediated Membrane Transport

Certain large, lipid-insoluble drug molecules that resemble amino acids, peptides, or glucose, require specialized carrier proteins to facilitate their diffusion across cell membranes. This transport can occur through either facilitated diffusion, which does not require energy input, or active transport, which does require energy input.
Facilitated diffusion is a passive process that utilizes human Solute Carrier (SLC) transporters. These transporters bind to the drug, undergo structural...
Carrier-Mediated Transport01:06

Carrier-Mediated Transport

Carrier-mediated transport is a pivotal process in drug absorption, particularly for lipid-insoluble drugs, and encompasses facilitated diffusion and active transport. Facilitated diffusion allows drugs to move along their concentration gradient without energy expenditure, while active transport utilizes ATP to drive drug movement against this gradient.
Active transport involves two types of membrane-spanning transporters: uptake and efflux. Uptake transporters are expressed in the small...
Adrenergic Neurons: Neurotransmission01:27

Adrenergic Neurons: Neurotransmission

Postganglionic sympathetic fibers (except those supplying the sweat glands) releasing noradrenaline or norepinephrine are called noradrenergic or adrenergic neurons. Noradrenaline, dopamine, adrenaline, or epinephrine are collectively called "catecholamines" as they contain a catechol moiety and an amine side chain. The five stages of neurotransmitter release involve their synthesis, storage, release, reuptake and metabolism.
Synthesis: Catecholamine synthesis requires tyrosine, which is taken...
Drug Absorption Mechanism: Passive Membrane Transport01:23

Drug Absorption Mechanism: Passive Membrane Transport

Passive transport is a method of drug absorption where small, lipid-soluble drugs can move across the cell membrane. This movement happens along the concentration gradient, which is a natural flow from higher to lower concentration areas. The speed at which the drug moves is directly related to its lipid–water partition coefficient. This means that the more a drug dissolves in lipids, the faster it diffuses or spreads throughout the body. It is important to note that most drugs are either weak...
Neurochemical Transmission: Sites of Drug Action01:26

Neurochemical Transmission: Sites of Drug Action

Neurochemical transmission, the conduction of electrical impulses between neurons mediated by neurotransmitters, plays a vital role in various physiological processes. Autonomic drugs exert their effects by modulating neurotransmission within the autonomic nervous system. For instance, drugs such as hemicholinium block the precursor uptake necessary for synthesizing acetylcholine, an essential autonomic neurotransmitter. Following synthesis, neurotransmitters are stored in vesicles. Metyrosine...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 25, 2026

A Plate-Based Assay for the Measurement of Endogenous Monoamine Release in Acute Brain Slices
07:56

A Plate-Based Assay for the Measurement of Endogenous Monoamine Release in Acute Brain Slices

Published on: August 11, 2021

Anandamide uptake explained?

Christopher J Fowler1

  • 1Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Neuroscience, Umeå University, SE-901 87 Umeå, Sweden. cf@pharm.umu.se

Trends in Pharmacological Sciences
|February 3, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Cellular uptake of endocannabinoids like anandamide (AEA) involves specific intracellular transport proteins. These proteins shuttle AEA to metabolic enzymes, offering potential therapeutic targets for enhancing AEA signaling.

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A High-content Assay for Monitoring AMPA Receptor Trafficking
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A High-content Assay for Monitoring AMPA Receptor Trafficking

Published on: January 28, 2019

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Last Updated: May 25, 2026

A Plate-Based Assay for the Measurement of Endogenous Monoamine Release in Acute Brain Slices
07:56

A Plate-Based Assay for the Measurement of Endogenous Monoamine Release in Acute Brain Slices

Published on: August 11, 2021

A High-content Assay for Monitoring AMPA Receptor Trafficking
10:34

A High-content Assay for Monitoring AMPA Receptor Trafficking

Published on: January 28, 2019

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Biochemistry
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Endocannabinoids anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol are crucial signaling molecules.
  • Cellular removal of endocannabinoids occurs via uptake and subsequent metabolism.
  • The mechanisms of endocannabinoid uptake have been historically debated.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the current understanding of endocannabinoid uptake processes.
  • To highlight the identified intracellular transport proteins involved in AEA uptake.
  • To discuss the therapeutic potential of targeting these uptake mechanisms.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent scientific literature on endocannabinoid transport.
  • Identification of key proteins involved in shuttling AEA from the plasma membrane.
  • Analysis of the role of these proteins in facilitating AEA metabolism.

Main Results:

  • Several intracellular transport proteins, including fatty acid binding proteins (FABP5, FABP7), heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), albumin, and the fatty acid amide hydrolase-like anandamide transporter (FAAH-like AEA transporter), have been identified.
  • These proteins facilitate the transport of AEA to intracellular metabolic enzymes.
  • The fatty acid amide hydrolase-like AEA transporter is a potential target for therapeutic intervention.

Conclusions:

  • Intracellular transport proteins play a critical role in endocannabinoid uptake and metabolism.
  • Targeting proteins like the fatty acid amide hydrolase-like AEA transporter could lead to novel therapeutic strategies.
  • Enhancing AEA signaling through modulation of its uptake presents a promising avenue for future drug development.