Cannabinoid effects in the microvasculature – CB, or not CB? That is the question! A mini-review

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Lehmann, Christian^{a; b; c; d; e; *} | Zhou, Juan^a

Affiliations: [a] Department of Anesthesia, Pain Management and Perioperative Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada | [b] Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada | [c] Department of Pharmacology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada | [d] Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada | [e] Department of Computer Science, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: Prof. Dr. Christian Lehmann, 5850 College Street, Halifax, NS, Canada. Tel.: +1 902 494 1287; Fax: +1 902 494 2493; E-mail: chlehmann@dal.ca.

Abstract: Cannabinoids play critical roles in human pathophysiology through the cannabinoid (CB) receptors and non-CB receptors on variety of cells, tissues, and organs. Microvasculature with the inside bloodstream containing the plasmatic and cellular components exerts multiple functions in maintaining tissue and organ physiology through microcirculation. This review focusses on the impact of cannabinoids on the microvasculature, including mechanisms mediated by both CB receptor-related pathways and CB receptor-independent pathways.

Keywords: Cannabinoids, microcirculation, cannabinoid receptors, smooth muscle cells

DOI: 10.3233/CH-221677

Journal: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 83, no. 3, pp. 287-292, 2023