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Updated: Dec 26, 2025

Assessment of Neuromuscular Function Using Percutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation
Published on: September 13, 2015
Influence of cannabinoids upon nerve-evoked skeletal muscle contraction
Dengyun Ge1, G Lorenzo Odierna1, William D Phillips1
1School of Medical Sciences (Physiology) and Bosch Institute, The University of Sydney, NSW, 2006 Australia.
Abstract:
Endocannabinoids play important roles in regulating CNS synaptic function and peripheral metabolism, but cannabinoids can also act acutely to modulate contraction strength in skeletal muscle. Nerve terminals and the skeletal muscle sarcolemma express components of the cannabinoid signaling system. Endocannabinoids, N-arachidonylethanolamine (anandamide, AEA) and 2-arachidonoyl-glycerol (2-AG), are produced by skeletal muscle. They may be involved in the acute regulation of neuromuscular transmission, by adjusting the parameters for quantal acetylcholine release from the motor nerve terminal. Downstream of neuromuscular transmission, cannabinoids may also act to limit the efficiency of excitation-contraction coupling. Improved understanding of the distinct signaling actions of particular cannabinoid compounds and their receptor/transduction systems will help advance our understanding of the role of endocannabinoids in skeletal muscle physiology. Cannabinoids might also offer the potential to develop new pharmacotherapeutics to treat neuromuscular disorders that affect muscle strength.
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