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In overview one can find up-today data on endogenous cannabinoids (EC), their role in brain functioning. Interest in EC in recent years has significantly increased. Despite the fact that existence of EC-system among mammals was identified in nineties of the twenties century, deciphering the mechanisms of its functioning both in healthy brain as well in various pathologies, is far from final stage. The main function of EC in brain is implementation of the retrograde synaptic function of communication and neuromodulation. In overview one can see data on localization and functions of cannabinoids receptors and its endogenous ligands in CMS, as well as on EC-system participation in epileptiform activity modulation. Special focus on the analysis of works, where the projection revealed the role of EC in experimental modeling of the temporal epilepsy with animals, as well as for diseases in humans epilepsy. Set out the estimated survival mechanisms of cells and their repair provided by cannabinoid system in the generation of seizure activity; also provides information about the neurotoxic effects of EC. Possible reasons of contradictions are being discussed, that exist in the literature regarding the functions of EC in the brain.

Ischemic postconditioning enhances brain and spinal cord tolerance to ischemia and reperfusion. There are no clinical data on the neuroprotective effect of postconditioning. It was established that foregoing effect of ischemic postconditioning depended upon an activation of PKCs, ERK, Akt kinases and a decrease in the activity of JNK kinase. Superoxide dismutase, Bax, Bal-2 and HSP proteins may be the end effector of postconditioning. Postconditioning phenomenon is mimicked by norepinephrine, diazoxide, sevoflurane, isoflurane and propofol. It is unknown before whether these pharmacological agents prevent brain reperfusion injury in human. Remote preconditioning improves brain and spinal cord tolerance to ischemic and reperfusion damages. There are no data on the neuroprotective effect of remote preconditioning in human at ischemic insult. The endogenous cannabinoids, reactive oxygen species are triggers of remote preconditioning. The neuroprotective effect of preconditioning at distance is depended on the activation of p38, ERK kinases and is attributed to enhancement of HSP-70 protein synthesis.

Our knowledge about the preneural neurotransmitter systems and their functions were based on the old pharmacological and biochemical data that have recently been confirmed and substantially supplemented. Specific components of the preneural serotoninergic and endocannabinoid systems were identified in developing echinoderm embryos using immunocytochemistry, Western immunoelectroblotting, and HPLC-mass spectroscopy. These data were corroborated by the results of pharmacological experiments: it was found that some ligands of serotonin receptors, as well as the agonist of cannabinoid receptors anandamide induced the appearance of abnormal embryonic phenotypes, whose expression depended on the ligand-teratogen concentration. Their appearance was prevented, correspondingly, by serotonin and its lipophilic (or hydrophilic) analogs and antagonists of cannabinoid (CB1/CB2)-receptors.