Cannabinoids CB2 Receptors, One New Promising Drug Target for Chronic and Degenerative Pain Conditions in Equine Veterinary Patients

Abstract

Osteoarticular equine disease is a common cause of malady; in general, its therapy is supported on steroids and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories. Nevertheless, many side effects may develop when these drugs are administered.

Nowadays, the use of new alternatives for this pathology attention is demanded; in that sense, cannabinoid CB2 agonists may represent a novel alternative. Cannabinoid belongs to a group of molecules known by their psychoactive properties; they are synthetized by the Cannabis sativa plant, better known as marijuana.

The aim of this study was to contribute to understand the pharmacology of cannabinoid CB2 receptors and its potential utilization on equine veterinary patients with a chronic degenerative painful condition.

In animals, two main receptors for cannabinoids are recognized, the cannabinoid receptor type 1 and the cannabinoid receptor type 2. Once they are activated, both receptors exert a wide range of physiological responses, as nociception modulation.

Recently, it has been proposed the use of synthetic cannabinoid type 2 receptor agonists; those receptors looks to confer antinociceptive properties but without the undesired psychoactive side effects; for that reason, veterinary patients, whit chronical degenerative diseases as osteoarthritis may alleviate one of the most common symptom, the pain, which in some cases for several reasons, as patient individualities, or side effects produced for more conventional treatments cannot be attended in the best way.

Introduction

Part of the current knowledge about cannabinoids originates from the studies on the psychotropic effect of Cannabis sativa plant; however, its ancient therapeutic purpose is known about 2600 B.C. In the XIX century, the systematization of their therapeutic use described by Sir William Brooke O’Shaughnessy showed the potential of these compounds in the management of epilepsy, inflammation, and pain [1].

Pain is a common symptom of equine veterinary patients with chronic degenerative diseases. In these patients, the treatment of first choice are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs); however, the prolonged use of NSAIDs produces diverse side effects, including gastric irritation and peptic ulcer. Hence, the identification of alternative treatments is crucial.

In this sense, recently, it has been proposed cannabinoids CB2 receptors as therapeutic targets for treatment of pain because these receptors look to confer antinociceptive properties but without the psychoactive side effects.

Therefore, the objective of this article was to contribute to understand the pharmacology of cannabinoid CB2 receptors and its potential utilization on equine veterinary patients with a chronic degenerative painful condition.

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Source: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S073708061930629X?via%3Dihub

Cannabinoids CB2 Receptors, One New Promising Drug Target for Chronic and Degenerative Pain Conditions in Equine Veterinary Patients