Grant: Project Grant

Nerve injury causes the destruction of the neuromuscular synapse, the nerve contacts that control muscle activity in the peripheral nervous system. Cannabinoids are the active compound in marijuana (Cannabis Sativa). Our current work will examine the contribution of endogenous cannabinoid receptors (CB1R) in the repair of the neuromuscular synapse after injury. Our study reveals that the quality and efficacy of the repair of the nerve-muscle contacts after injury are tightly regulated by the CB1R. Endocannabinoid signaling may be a master regulator of nerve injury and could provide a therapeutic strategy to facilitate neuromuscular synapse repair following injury or in motor neuron-related neurodegenerative diseases.