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Marijuana ’s electronegative issue on memory are well known . But now scientist have nail where in the brain the drug do this forgetfulness , and it ’s separate from where pot exerts its medicinal effects .
If this finding , pull back from experiment with lab mice , is also happen to apply to humankind , it mean scientists someday may be able to design aesculapian marijuana that does n’t impede a affected role ’s workings memory while treating his or her pain . Working memory is the power tohold more than one thoughtin your head for a period of time of sentence .
" We have found that the starting point for this phenomenon — the effect of marijuana on workings memory — is the astroglial cells , " study investigator Giovanni Marsicano , of the Gallic biomedical researcher mental institution INSERM , said in a statement .
genius cells
The researchers find that this hurly burly of workings memory fare not from the drug ’s effects directly on the psyche ’s nerve cell , but on a different type of cadre : the brain ’s help cell called astroglia . ( They are also called astrocyte , neuroglia or glial cells . )
The researchers studied how the mice reacted to marijuana ’s active component and several like synthetic chemicals . They were looking specifically at the receptor on the brain cells that oppose to thesechemicals call cannabinoids , which are compounds standardised to the dynamic components of marijuana , Tetrahydrocannabinol ( THC ) . Such receptors be on both neuron and astroglia .
They genetically engineered mouse without these sensory receptor on certain cells . One set of mice had no cannabinoid receptors in the learning ability ; one bent had the receptors only on neurons ; and one set had the receptors only on the astroglia .
Marijuana judgement
The black eye learned to navigate a labyrinth , then were tested in their power to remember how after receive a dose of THC or other cannabinoid . The two set of shiner with cannibinoid receptors on their astroglia had problems remembering directions . Those mice with the receptor only on their neurons finish the labyrinth just fine , suggesting the THC was n’t affecting memory via the brain ’s neurons but rather through the astroglia .
They also wait at these astroglial cells in brain slices from the hippocampus ( the brain area that deals with memory establishment ) . After treatment with cannabinoids the astroglia let go of compounds that fiddle with the signals charge between neurons , which may be how they cause marijuana - induced forgetfulness .
Marijuana ’s other result — which have been found good in the discussion of pain , seizure and other ailments — happen through the neuron . If cannabinoids can be designed to target just neurons , they might not have the electronegative force on workings remembering presently seen in medical marijuana .
The study was write today ( March 1 ) in the diary Cell .
