Potential Therapeutic Value of a Novel FAAH Inhibitor for the Treatment of Anxiety

摘要: Anxiety disorders are among the most prevalent psychiatric diseases with high personal costs and a remarkable socio-economic burden. However, current treatment of anxiety is far from satisfactory. Novel pharmacological targets have emerged in recent years, attention has focused on endocannabinoid (eCB) system, given increasing evidence that supports its central role emotion, coping stress anxiety. In management disorders, drug development strategies left apart direct activation type-1 cannabinoid receptors to indirectly enhance eCB signalling through inhibition deactivation, is, fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) enzyme. present study, we provide for anxiolytic-like properties novel, potent selective reversible inhibitor FAAH, ST4070, orally administered rodents. ST4070 (3 30 mg/kg per os) CD1 male mice induced an increase time spent exploration open arms elevated-plus maze. A partial reduction anxiety-related behaviour by was also obtained Wistar rats, which moderately intensified illuminated compartment light-dark box. clearly inhibited FAAH activity augmented levels two substrates, N-arachidonoylethanolamine (anandamide) N-palmitoylethanolamine, anxiety-relevant brain regions. Altogether, offers promising profile preclinical studies, although further studies warranted demonstrate efficacy clinic disorders.