Scholsburg and colleagues show that prolonged inactivation of monoacylglycerol lipase, the principal degradative enzyme for the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol, antagonizes the brain endocannabinoid system. This is manifested as tolerance, impaired plasticity and receptor desensitization; these effects are similar to the effects of prolonged exposure to drugs of abuse.
- Joel E Schlosburg
- Jacqueline L Blankman
- Benjamin F Cravatt