Type 2 Diabetes Alters Vascular Cannabinoid Receptor 1 Expression, Phosphorylation Status, and Vasorelaxation in Rat Aorta

Previous studies have suggested a role of the endocannabinoid system in metabolic diseases, such as diabetes. We investigated the effect of diabetes on cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB(1)) expression and cannabinoid-induced vasorelaxation in rat aorta rings. Aortas from healthy rats and from rats with experimentally induced diabetes were used to compare the vasorelaxant effect of the cannabinoid agonist arachidonylcyclopropylamide (ACPA) and CB(1) expression and localization. After 4–8 weeks of diabetes induction, CB(1) receptor expression and CB(1) phosphorylation were higher in aortic rings, in association with greater vasorelaxation induced by the CB(1) agonist ACPA compared to healthy rats. The vasorelaxant effect observed in healthy rats is similar throughout the study. Further studies are needed to elucidate the implications of CB(1) receptor overexpression in diabetes and its influence on the progression of the cardiovascular complications of this metabolic disease.