Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2014 Jul;71(14):2681-98.
doi: 10.1007/s00018-014-1575-6. Epub 2014 Feb 14.

Physical activity and the endocannabinoid system: an overview

Affiliations
Review

Physical activity and the endocannabinoid system: an overview

Mirko Tantimonaco et al. Cell Mol Life Sci. 2014 Jul.

Abstract

Recognized as a "disease modifier", physical activity (PA) is increasingly viewed as a more holistic, cost-saving method for prevention, treatment and management of human disease conditions. The traditional view that PA engages the monoaminergic and endorphinergic systems has been challenged by the discovery of the endocannabinoid system (ECS), composed of endogenous lipids, their target receptors, and metabolic enzymes. Indeed, direct and indirect evidence suggests that the ECS might mediate some of the PA-triggered effects throughout the body. Moreover, it is now emerging that PA itself is able to modulate ECS in different ways. Against this background, in the present review we shall discuss evidence of the cross-talk between PA and the ECS, ranging from brain to peripheral districts and highlighting how ECS must be tightly regulated during PA, in order to maintain its beneficial effects on cognition, mood, and nociception, while avoiding impaired energy metabolism, oxidative stress, and inflammatory processes.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Chemical structure of the main plant-derived and endogenous cannabinoids
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Schematic representation of the ECS. 2-AG 2-arachidonoylglycerol, AEA anandamide, AITs anandamide intracellular transporters, CBR cannabinoid receptors, DAGL diacylglycerol lipase, EMT endocannabinoid membrane transporter, FAAH-1/2 fatty acid amide hydrolase 1 and 2, MAGL monoacylglycerol lipase, NAPE-PLD N-acylphosphatidylethanolamine-hydrolyzing phospholipase D, PPAR nuclear peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor, TRPV1 transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1. See text for further details
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Schematic representation of the main effects triggered by ECS in body areas involved in locomotor activity. ACh acetylcholine, LTD long-term depression, LTP long-term potentiation, SERCA sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase. See text for further details
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Schematic representation of the interplay between PA and ECS in the CNS. Red arrows indicate negative effects, green arrows indicate positive effects. Specific references are included for each item. References in red PA/ECS interplay confirmed in the specific brain area, references in green suggested PA/ECS interplay for the indicated function, but not necessarily related to the particular area, references in black ECS effects not yet proven to be related to exercise. See text for further details
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Schematic representation of effects of PA and the ECS at the peripheral level. ROS reactive oxygen species, RNS reactive nitrogen species. ↑: increase; ↓:decrease; ↑↓: increase or decrease depending on exercise intensity, type, and duration (when referred to PA), and on activated pathways (when referred to ECS). See text for further details

Similar articles

Cited by

References

    1. Howley ET. Type of activity: resistance, aerobic and leisure versus occupational PA. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2001;33:S364–S369. - PubMed
    1. Romijn JA, et al. Regulation of endogenous fat and carbohydrate metabolism in relation to exercise intensity and duration. Am J Physiol. 1993;265:E380–E391. - PubMed
    1. Yau SY, et al. Effects of voluntary running on plasma levels of neurotrophins, hippocampal cell proliferation and learning and memory in stressed rats. Neuroscience. 2012;222:289–301. - PubMed
    1. Knab AM, Lightfoot JT. Does the difference between physically active and couch potato lie in the dopamine system? Int J Biol Sci. 2010;6:133–150. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Nijs J, et al. Dysfunctional endogenous analgesia during exercise in patients with chronic pain: to exercise or not to exercise? Pain Physician. 2012;151:ES205–213. - PubMed

Publication types

Substances

LinkOut - more resources