Abstract Background & aims: Fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) catalyzes the hydrolysis both of the endocannabinoids (which are known to inhibit intestinal motility) and other bioactive amides (palmitoylethanolamide, oleamide, and oleoylethanolamide), which might affect intestinal motility. The physiologic role of FAAH in the gut is largely unexplored. In the present study, we evaluated the possible role of FAAH in regulating intestinal motility in mice in vivo. Methods: Motility was measured by evaluating the distribution of a fluorescent marker along the small intestine; FAAH messenger RNA (mRNA) levels were analyzed by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR); endocannabinoid levels were measured by isotope-dilution, liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry. Results: Motility...

The emerging potential for the cannabinoid (CB) system in modulating gastrointestinal inflammation has gained momentum over the last few years. Traditional and anecdotal use of marijuana for gastrointestinal disorders, such as diarrhoea and abdominal cramps is recognized, but the therapeutic benefit of cannabinoids in the 21st century is overshadowed by the psychoactive problems associated with CB1 receptor activation. However, the presence and function of the CB2 receptor in the GI tract, whilst not yet well characterized, holds great promise due to its immunomodulatory roles in inflammatory systems and its lack of psychotropic effects. This review of our current knowledge of CB2 receptors in the...