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Central and
peripheral targets of ECS and effects of overactivity
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CB1
receptors have been shown to play an important role in energy balance and are
directly implicated in lipid and glucose metabolism. CB1 receptors
are located centrally in the brain, and peripherally in adipose tissue,
liver, skeletal muscle and the gastrointestinal tract.
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In the brain, the
hypothalamus plays a principal role in the control of feeding and regulation
of body weight, and CB1 receptor stimulation leads to dopamine
release in the nucleus accumbens shell, which increases motivation to eat.
These effects result in increased food intake and fat accumulation.
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Peripherally, ECS
promotes lipogenesis at the level of adipose tissue and the liver. ECS
activity in the gastrointestinal tract interferes with feelings of satiety,
and CB1 receptor stimulation of skeletal muscle decreases glucose
uptake. All of these central and peripheral effects indicate that an
overactivated ECS could contribute to the increased risk of atherogenic
dyslipidaemia (low HDL-C, high triglycerides), insulin resistance, glucose
intolerance and increased cardiometabolic risk.
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