Cannabinoids and opioids interact in a number of ways that could be therapeutically beneficial. The CB1 receptors are implicated with the endocannabinoid-mediated modulation of stress, pain, visceral sensation, synaptic plasticity in the thalamus via GABAergic signaling. Thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN) is a thin sheet of GABAergic neurons surrounding anterolateral surface of the thalamus. In our immunohistochemical study we demonstrated expression of CB1 immunoreactive neurons in a light microscope during a normal condition and after the acute stress in the rats. We found higher expression of CB 1 immunoreactivity in stressed animals compared with control group.
Opioids and cannabinoids have been shown to have analgesic properties and they are considered as drug targets for the treatment of numerous neurological disorders, pain and stress.
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