Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 2, 2026

In Vitro Method to Study Sex-Based Differences in Conjunctival Goblet Cells
06:28

In Vitro Method to Study Sex-Based Differences in Conjunctival Goblet Cells

Published on: July 28, 2023

845

Sex differences in distribution of cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2), S100A6 and CacyBP/SIP in human ageing hearts

Żaneta Piotrowska1, Michał Niezgoda1, Wojciech Łebkowski2

  • 1Department of Histology and Cytophysiology, Medical University of Białystok, Białystok, Poland.

Biology of Sex Differences
|November 29, 2018
PubMed

Insights

This study reveals sex and age-related differences in cannabinoid receptors (CB1, CB2) and calcium-binding proteins (S100A6, CacyBP/SIP) within the human heart, impacting cardiovascular function with aging.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Physiology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Gerontology

Background:

  • Women exhibit longer lifespans, partly due to reduced cardiovascular complications with aging.
  • Mechanisms preserving female cardiac function during aging remain unclear.
  • The endocannabinoid system regulates cardiovascular function via cannabinoid receptors (CB1, CB2).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate sex differences in cardiac cannabinoid receptors, S100A6, and CacyBP/SIP during aging.
  • To compare the expression of these proteins in the myocardium of aging men and women.

Main Methods:

  • Immunohistochemical analysis of cannabinoid receptors (CB1, CB2), S100A6, and CacyBP/SIP in human heart sections.
  • Gene expression analysis using real-time PCR for CB1, CB2, S100A6, and CacyBP/SIP.
  • Study included organ donors aged under and over 50 years, divided by sex.

Main Results:

  • CB1 and CB2 receptor expression decreased with age in cardiomyocytes.
  • Sex-based differences in CB1 and CB2 expression were observed, varying with age.
  • S100A6 and CacyBP/SIP levels increased with age; male hearts showed higher S100A6 but lower CacyBP/SIP than females.
  • Gene expression patterns correlated with protein levels, indicating sex and age dependency.

Conclusions:

  • Age and sex significantly influence the distribution and levels of cardiac cannabinoid receptors and calcium-binding proteins.
  • These findings highlight interactions between aging and sex in regulating human heart function.
Abstract

Keywords:
CB1CB2CacyBP/SIPHeartHumanS100A6Sex differences

More Related Videos

Sex Differences in Mouse Hippocampal Astrocytes after In-Vitro Ischemia08:32

Sex Differences in Mouse Hippocampal Astrocytes after In-Vitro Ischemia

Published on: October 25, 2016

13.9K
Tobacco Hornworm as an Insect Model System for Cannabinoid Pre-clinical Studies05:25

Tobacco Hornworm as an Insect Model System for Cannabinoid Pre-clinical Studies

Published on: December 29, 2021

3.0K

Related Concept Videos

Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Distribution01:00

Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Distribution

Drug distribution in the human body is influenced by several factors, including plasma protein concentration, body composition, blood flow, tissue-protein concentration, and tissue fluid pH. Among these, changes in plasma protein concentration and body composition due to aging significantly affect how drugs are distributed within the body. Specifically, aging is associated with a decrease in albumin levels by about 10% and an increase in α1-acid glycoprotein levels. These alterations are...
262
Sex-linked Disorders01:43

Sex-linked Disorders

Like autosomes, sex chromosomes contain a variety of genes necessary for normal body function. When a mutation in one of these genes results in biological deficits, the disorder is considered sex-linked.
108.8K
Anatomy of the Heart01:27

Anatomy of the Heart

The human heart is made up of three layers of tissue that are surrounded by the pericardium, a membrane that protects and confines the heart. The outermost layer, closest to the pericardium, is the epicardium. The pericardial cavity separates the pericardium from the epicardium. Beneath the epicardium is the myocardium, the middle layer, and the endocardium, the innermost layer. There are four chambers of the heart: the right atrium, the right ventricle, the left atrium, and the left ventricle.
119.8K
CNS Stimulants: Cocaine, Amphetamines and Cannabinoids01:24

CNS Stimulants: Cocaine, Amphetamines and Cannabinoids

CNS stimulants, such as cocaine, amphetamines, and cannabinoids, have varying structures and mechanisms of action that lead to different therapeutic effects and side effects. Cocaine, with its molecular formula C17H21NO4, is a tropane alkaloid and a tertiary amino compound. It has two chemical forms: the hydrochloride salt and the "freebase." The former is in powder form, while the latter involves removing the hydrochloride salt to create a form that can be smoked. Cocaine exerts its...
872
Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: Cannabinoids01:21

Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: Cannabinoids

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is a phytocannabinoid that primarily interacts with the CB1 receptor, a type of G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) predominantly in and around the chemoreceptor trigger zone (CTZ) and emetic center. THC also blocks the serotonin receptor activity in the dorsal vagal complex (DVC) by inhibiting serotonin release. THC exerts its anti-emetic effects through these interactions, which are beneficial for patients undergoing chemotherapy.
Two synthetic agonists of THC,...
788
Aging01:26

Aging

Aging is a complex biological phenomenon influenced by various processes that affect cellular and systemic functions. Several prominent theories attempt to explain its mechanisms, highlighting cellular limitations, oxidative damage, and hormonal changes as central factors in aging.
Cellular Clock Theory
The cellular clock theory posits that the human lifespan is closely tied to the finite capacity of cells to divide, a phenomenon governed by telomeres, which are protective caps at the ends of...
705