anandamide and Narcolepsy

Endocannabinoids (ECs) modulate both excitatory and inhibitory components in the CNS. There is a growing body of evidence that shows ECs influence both hypothalamic orexinergic and histaminergic neurons involved in narcolepsy physiopathology. Therefore, ECs may influence sleep and sleep-wake cycle.. To evaluate EC levels in the CSF of untreated narcoleptic patients to test whether ECs are dysregulated in Narcolepsy Type 1 (NT1) and Type 2 (NT2).. We compared CSF Anandamide (AEA), 2-Arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) and orexin in narcoleptic drug-naïve patients and in a sample of healthy subjects.. We compared NT1 (n=6), NT2 (n=6), and healthy controls (n=6). We found significantly reduced AEA levels in NT1 patients compared to both NT2 and controls. No differences were found between AEA levels in NT2 versus controls and between 2-AG levels in all groups, although a trend toward a decrease in NT1 was evident. Finally, the CSF AEA level was related to CSF orexin levels in all subjects.. We demonstrated that the EC system is dysregulated in NT1.

Topics: Adult; Arachidonic Acids; Case-Control Studies; Endocannabinoids; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Narcolepsy; Orexins; Pilot Projects; Polyunsaturated Alkamides; Rome; Sleep; Young Adult