The Endocannabinoid System

Endogenous ligands, or endocannabinoids, exist in cell membranes and are produced naturally within an individual when they are needed. Endocannabinoids act as neurotransmitters and bind to the receptors in the endocannabinoid system. There are five endocannabinoids, N-arachidonyl-dopamine (NADA), 2-arachidonylglyceryl ether (noladin ether), O-arachidonyl-ethanolamine (virodhamine), arachidonylethanolamide (anandamide) and 2-arachidonoyl glycerol (2-AG). The two most important, and highly reviewed endocannabinoids, both derived from arachidonic acid, are anandamide (arachidonylethanolamide) and 2-AG (2-arachidonoyl glycerol). Anandamide is a CB1 receptor partial agonist with a chemical structure, and behavioral characteristics, similar to THC. In addition to binding to cannabinoid receptors, NADA and Anandamide stimulate the transient receptor potential vanilloid subtype 1 (TRPV1) in relation to CB1 receptors.
These enzymes are fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), which is involved in the breakdown of anandamide, and monoacylglyceride lipase (MAGL), which is involved in the breakdown of 2-AG. The endocannabinoid systems functions primarily to maintain homeostasis, keeping the internal environment stable regardless of what is happening externally, by coordinating cellular communication, which varies from typical neurotransmitter communication in that endocannabinoids can deliver feedback to a presynaptic cell; normal neurotransmitters only communicate from presynaptic to postsynaptic