Skip to main content
British Journal of Sports Medicine logoLink to British Journal of Sports Medicine
. 2004 Oct;38(5):536–541. doi: 10.1136/bjsm.2004.011718

Endocannabinoids and exercise

A Dietrich 1, W McDaniel 1
PMCID: PMC1724924  PMID: 15388533

Full Text

The Full Text of this article is available as a PDF (88.5 KB).

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Ameri A. The effects of cannabinoids on the brain. Prog Neurobiol. 1999 Jul;58(4):315–348. doi: 10.1016/s0301-0082(98)00087-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Bloom A. S., Tershner S., Fuller S. A., Stein E. A. Cannabinoid-induced alterations in regional cerebral blood flow in the rat. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 1997 Aug;57(4):625–631. doi: 10.1016/s0091-3057(96)00475-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Braida D., Sala M. Cannabinoid-induced working memory impairment is reversed by a second generation cholinesterase inhibitor in rats. Neuroreport. 2000 Jun 26;11(9):2025–2029. doi: 10.1097/00001756-200006260-00044. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Calignano A., Kátona I., Désarnaud F., Giuffrida A., La Rana G., Mackie K., Freund T. F., Piomelli D. Bidirectional control of airway responsiveness by endogenous cannabinoids. Nature. 2000 Nov 2;408(6808):96–101. doi: 10.1038/35040576. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Calignano A., La Rana G., Giuffrida A., Piomelli D. Control of pain initiation by endogenous cannabinoids. Nature. 1998 Jul 16;394(6690):277–281. doi: 10.1038/28393. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Chaperon F., Thiébot M. H. Behavioral effects of cannabinoid agents in animals. Crit Rev Neurobiol. 1999;13(3):243–281. doi: 10.1615/critrevneurobiol.v13.i3.20. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Devane W. A., Hanus L., Breuer A., Pertwee R. G., Stevenson L. A., Griffin G., Gibson D., Mandelbaum A., Etinger A., Mechoulam R. Isolation and structure of a brain constituent that binds to the cannabinoid receptor. Science. 1992 Dec 18;258(5090):1946–1949. doi: 10.1126/science.1470919. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Dewey W. L. Cannabinoid pharmacology. Pharmacol Rev. 1986 Jun;38(2):151–178. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Di Marzo Vincenzo, De Petrocellis L., Fezza F., Ligresti A., Bisogno T. Anandamide receptors. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids. 2002 Feb-Mar;66(2-3):377–391. doi: 10.1054/plef.2001.0349. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Diana M., Melis M., Muntoni A. L., Gessa G. L. Mesolimbic dopaminergic decline after cannabinoid withdrawal. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1998 Aug 18;95(17):10269–10273. doi: 10.1073/pnas.95.17.10269. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Dietrich Arne. Functional neuroanatomy of altered states of consciousness: the transient hypofrontality hypothesis. Conscious Cogn. 2003 Jun;12(2):231–256. doi: 10.1016/s1053-8100(02)00046-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Dietrich Arne, Sparling Phillip B. Endurance exercise selectively impairs prefrontal-dependent cognition. Brain Cogn. 2004 Aug;55(3):516–524. doi: 10.1016/j.bandc.2004.03.002. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Farrell P. A., Gustafson A. B., Morgan W. P., Pert C. B. Enkephalins, catecholamines, and psychological mood alterations: effects of prolonged exercise. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1987 Aug;19(4):347–353. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Fernández-Ruiz J., Berrendero F., Hernández M. L., Ramos J. A. The endogenous cannabinoid system and brain development. Trends Neurosci. 2000 Jan;23(1):14–20. doi: 10.1016/s0166-2236(99)01491-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Fernández-Ruiz J., Lastres-Becker I., Cabranes A., González S., Ramos J. A. Endocannabinoids and basal ganglia functionality. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids. 2002 Feb-Mar;66(2-3):257–267. doi: 10.1054/plef.2001.0350. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. French E. D., Dillon K., Wu X. Cannabinoids excite dopamine neurons in the ventral tegmentum and substantia nigra. Neuroreport. 1997 Feb 10;8(3):649–652. doi: 10.1097/00001756-199702100-00014. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Gardner E. L., Lowinson J. H. Marijuana's interaction with brain reward systems: update 1991. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 1991 Nov;40(3):571–580. doi: 10.1016/0091-3057(91)90365-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Gessa G. L., Melis M., Muntoni A. L., Diana M. Cannabinoids activate mesolimbic dopamine neurons by an action on cannabinoid CB1 receptors. Eur J Pharmacol. 1998 Jan 2;341(1):39–44. doi: 10.1016/s0014-2999(97)01442-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Giuffrida A., Parsons L. H., Kerr T. M., Rodríguez de Fonseca F., Navarro M., Piomelli D. Dopamine activation of endogenous cannabinoid signaling in dorsal striatum. Nat Neurosci. 1999 Apr;2(4):358–363. doi: 10.1038/7268. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Hampson R. E., Deadwyler S. A. Cannabinoids, hippocampal function and memory. Life Sci. 1999;65(6-7):715–723. doi: 10.1016/s0024-3205(99)00294-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Han C. J., Robinson J. K. Cannabinoid modulation of time estimation in the rat. Behav Neurosci. 2001 Feb;115(1):243–246. doi: 10.1037/0735-7044.115.1.243. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Herkenham M., Lynn A. B., Johnson M. R., Melvin L. S., de Costa B. R., Rice K. C. Characterization and localization of cannabinoid receptors in rat brain: a quantitative in vitro autoradiographic study. J Neurosci. 1991 Feb;11(2):563–583. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.11-02-00563.1991. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Hillard C. J. Endocannabinoids and vascular function. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2000 Jul;294(1):27–32. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Hohmann A. G., Herkenham M. Localization of cannabinoid CB(1) receptor mRNA in neuronal subpopulations of rat striatum: a double-label in situ hybridization study. Synapse. 2000 Jul;37(1):71–80. doi: 10.1002/(SICI)1098-2396(200007)37:1<71::AID-SYN8>3.0.CO;2-K. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Hohmann A. G., Herkenham M. Localization of central cannabinoid CB1 receptor messenger RNA in neuronal subpopulations of rat dorsal root ganglia: a double-label in situ hybridization study. Neuroscience. 1999 Mar;90(3):923–931. doi: 10.1016/s0306-4522(98)00524-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Hohmann A. G., Tsou K., Walker J. M. Cannabinoid suppression of noxious heat-evoked activity in wide dynamic range neurons in the lumbar dorsal horn of the rat. J Neurophysiol. 1999 Feb;81(2):575–583. doi: 10.1152/jn.1999.81.2.575. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Howley E. T. The effect of different intensities of exercise on the excretion of epinephrine and norepinephrine. Med Sci Sports. 1976 Winter;8(4):219–222. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Jenkins I. H., Brooks D. J., Nixon P. D., Frackowiak R. S., Passingham R. E. Motor sequence learning: a study with positron emission tomography. J Neurosci. 1994 Jun;14(6):3775–3790. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.14-06-03775.1994. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Jentsch J. D., Verrico C. D., Le D., Roth R. H. Repeated exposure to delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol reduces prefrontal cortical dopamine metabolism in the rat. Neurosci Lett. 1998 May 1;246(3):169–172. doi: 10.1016/s0304-3940(98)00254-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Koob G. F. Drug addiction: the yin and yang of hedonic homeostasis. Neuron. 1996 May;16(5):893–896. doi: 10.1016/s0896-6273(00)80109-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. Li J., Daughters R. S., Bullis C., Bengiamin R., Stucky M. W., Brennan J., Simone D. A. The cannabinoid receptor agonist WIN 55,212-2 mesylate blocks the development of hyperalgesia produced by capsaicin in rats. Pain. 1999 May;81(1-2):25–33. doi: 10.1016/s0304-3959(98)00263-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  32. Lynn A. B., Herkenham M. Localization of cannabinoid receptors and nonsaturable high-density cannabinoid binding sites in peripheral tissues of the rat: implications for receptor-mediated immune modulation by cannabinoids. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 1994 Mar;268(3):1612–1623. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  33. Maldonado Rafael, Rodríguez de Fonseca Fernando. Cannabinoid addiction: behavioral models and neural correlates. J Neurosci. 2002 May 1;22(9):3326–3331. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.22-09-03326.2002. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  34. Martin B. R., Mechoulam R., Razdan R. K. Discovery and characterization of endogenous cannabinoids. Life Sci. 1999;65(6-7):573–595. doi: 10.1016/s0024-3205(99)00281-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  35. Matsuda L. A., Lolait S. J., Brownstein M. J., Young A. C., Bonner T. I. Structure of a cannabinoid receptor and functional expression of the cloned cDNA. Nature. 1990 Aug 9;346(6284):561–564. doi: 10.1038/346561a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  36. Max M. B. Is mechanism-based pain treatment attainable? Clinical trial issues. J Pain. 2000 Sep;1(3 Suppl):2–9. doi: 10.1054/jpai.2000.9819. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  37. Mechoulam R., Ben-Shabat S., Hanus L., Ligumsky M., Kaminski N. E., Schatz A. R., Gopher A., Almog S., Martin B. R., Compton D. R. Identification of an endogenous 2-monoglyceride, present in canine gut, that binds to cannabinoid receptors. Biochem Pharmacol. 1995 Jun 29;50(1):83–90. doi: 10.1016/0006-2952(95)00109-d. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  38. Meng I. D., Manning B. H., Martin W. J., Fields H. L. An analgesia circuit activated by cannabinoids. Nature. 1998 Sep 24;395(6700):381–383. doi: 10.1038/26481. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  39. Munro S., Thomas K. L., Abu-Shaar M. Molecular characterization of a peripheral receptor for cannabinoids. Nature. 1993 Sep 2;365(6441):61–65. doi: 10.1038/365061a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  40. Murillo-Rodríguez E., Sánchez-Alavez M., Navarro L., Martínez-González D., Drucker-Colín R., Prospéro-García O. Anandamide modulates sleep and memory in rats. Brain Res. 1998 Nov 23;812(1-2):270–274. doi: 10.1016/s0006-8993(98)00969-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  41. Müller-Vahl K. R., Kolbe H., Schneider U., Emrich H. M. Cannabis in movement disorders. Forsch Komplementarmed. 1999 Oct;6 (Suppl 3):23–27. doi: 10.1159/000057153. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  42. Navarro M., Chowen J., Rocío A Carrera M., del Arco I., Villanúa M. A., Martin Y., Roberts A. J., Koob G. F., de Fonseca F. R. CB1 cannabinoid receptor antagonist-induced opiate withdrawal in morphine-dependent rats. Neuroreport. 1998 Oct 26;9(15):3397–3402. doi: 10.1097/00001756-199810260-00012. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  43. Ong W. Y., Mackie K. A light and electron microscopic study of the CB1 cannabinoid receptor in primate brain. Neuroscience. 1999;92(4):1177–1191. doi: 10.1016/s0306-4522(99)00025-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  44. Paluska S. A., Schwenk T. L. Physical activity and mental health: current concepts. Sports Med. 2000 Mar;29(3):167–180. doi: 10.2165/00007256-200029030-00003. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  45. Pertwee R. G. Cannabinoid receptors and pain. Prog Neurobiol. 2001 Apr;63(5):569–611. doi: 10.1016/s0301-0082(00)00031-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  46. Piomelli Daniele. The molecular logic of endocannabinoid signalling. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2003 Nov;4(11):873–884. doi: 10.1038/nrn1247. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  47. Pistis M., Porcu G., Melis M., Diana M., Gessa G. L. Effects of cannabinoids on prefrontal neuronal responses to ventral tegmental area stimulation. Eur J Neurosci. 2001 Jul;14(1):96–102. doi: 10.1046/j.0953-816x.2001.01612.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  48. Richardson J. D., Kilo S., Hargreaves K. M. Cannabinoids reduce hyperalgesia and inflammation via interaction with peripheral CB1 receptors. Pain. 1998 Mar;75(1):111–119. doi: 10.1016/S0304-3959(97)00213-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  49. Rodríguez de Fonseca F., Carrera M. R., Navarro M., Koob G. F., Weiss F. Activation of corticotropin-releasing factor in the limbic system during cannabinoid withdrawal. Science. 1997 Jun 27;276(5321):2050–2054. doi: 10.1126/science.276.5321.2050. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  50. Romero J., de Miguel R., García-Palomero E., Fernández-Ruiz J. J., Ramos J. A. Time-course of the effects of anandamide, the putative endogenous cannabinoid receptor ligand, on extrapyramidal function. Brain Res. 1995 Oct 2;694(1-2):223–232. doi: 10.1016/0006-8993(95)00835-e. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  51. Salmon P. Effects of physical exercise on anxiety, depression, and sensitivity to stress: a unifying theory. Clin Psychol Rev. 2001 Feb;21(1):33–61. doi: 10.1016/s0272-7358(99)00032-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  52. Sañudo-Peña M. C., Romero J., Seale G. E., Fernandez-Ruiz J. J., Walker J. M. Activational role of cannabinoids on movement. Eur J Pharmacol. 2000 Mar 17;391(3):269–274. doi: 10.1016/s0014-2999(00)00044-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  53. Scully D., Kremer J., Meade M. M., Graham R., Dudgeon K. Physical exercise and psychological well being: a critical review. Br J Sports Med. 1998 Jun;32(2):111–120. doi: 10.1136/bjsm.32.2.111. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  54. Sparling P. B., Giuffrida A., Piomelli D., Rosskopf L., Dietrich A. Exercise activates the endocannabinoid system. Neuroreport. 2003 Dec 2;14(17):2209–2211. doi: 10.1097/00001756-200312020-00015. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  55. Steiner H., Bonner T. I., Zimmer A. M., Kitai S. T., Zimmer A. Altered gene expression in striatal projection neurons in CB1 cannabinoid receptor knockout mice. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1999 May 11;96(10):5786–5790. doi: 10.1073/pnas.96.10.5786. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  56. Stella N., Schweitzer P., Piomelli D. A second endogenous cannabinoid that modulates long-term potentiation. Nature. 1997 Aug 21;388(6644):773–778. doi: 10.1038/42015. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  57. Sulcova E., Mechoulam R., Fride E. Biphasic effects of anandamide. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 1998 Feb;59(2):347–352. doi: 10.1016/s0091-3057(97)00422-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  58. Wagner J. A., Járai Z., Bátkai S., Kunos G. Hemodynamic effects of cannabinoids: coronary and cerebral vasodilation mediated by cannabinoid CB(1) receptors. Eur J Pharmacol. 2001 Jul 6;423(2-3):203–210. doi: 10.1016/s0014-2999(01)01112-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  59. Walker J. M., Huang S. M., Strangman N. M., Tsou K., Sañudo-Peña M. C. Pain modulation by release of the endogenous cannabinoid anandamide. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1999 Oct 12;96(21):12198–12203. doi: 10.1073/pnas.96.21.12198. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  60. Zygmunt P. M., Petersson J., Andersson D. A., Chuang H., Sørgård M., Di Marzo V., Julius D., Högestätt E. D. Vanilloid receptors on sensory nerves mediate the vasodilator action of anandamide. Nature. 1999 Jul 29;400(6743):452–457. doi: 10.1038/22761. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from British Journal of Sports Medicine are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES