Acquisition of threat responses are associated with elevated plasma concentration of endocannabinoids in male humans.

ABSTRACT: Endocannabinoids (eCBs) are involved in buffering threat and stress responses. Elevation of circulating eCBs in humans was reported to strengthen inhibition (i.e., extinction) of threat responses and to reduce effects of stressors. However, it remains unclear whether the acquisition of threat responses involves a physiological change in circulating eCBs. Here, we demonstrate in male human volunteers that the plasma concentration of the eCB N-arachidonoylethanolamine (AEA) and its metabolite arachidonic acid (AA) are increased during acquisition of threat responses. Furthermore, elevated responses to a learned threat cue (e.g., rating of fear) were associated with individual increases in plasma concentration of the eCB 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG). In complementing these observations, we f

SUBMITTER: Weisser S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9485143 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature