Cannabinoids reduce tremor in animal model of multiple
sclerosis
In the journal Nature scientists said on 1 March they had for the
first time scientifically demonstrated the link between cannabis
and the suppression of multiple sclerosis (MS) symptoms. The
study with mice suffering from chronic allergic encephalomyelitis
(CREAE) -- an animal model for MS -- found that cannabinoids
ameliorated CREAE symptoms.
The mouse MS study "is the first to show definitive objective
evidence that synthetic compounds, which stimulate the receptor
that cannabis (marijuana) binds to, can alleviate spasticity and
tremor in an MS-like condition. This gives a rationale of why
patients may perceive benefit from taking cannabis and supports
the establishment of a clinical trial to assess the benefit of medical
cannabis in MS," Lorna Layward, head of research of the
Multiple Sclerosis Society of Great Britain and Northern Ireland,
said.
In the study, led by David Baker of University College in London,
the researchers injected THC, other cannabinoid receptor agonists
and antagonists into mice with CREAE. Layward said it was now
up to drug companies to develop compounds that mimicked
cannabis but avoided the side-effects experienced by cannabis
smokers. The scientists cautioned the research is in the
preliminary stages; whether similar results can be obtained in
large-scale human studies is unknown.
(Source: Cannabinoids control spasticity and tremor in a multiple sclerosis model
Nature 404, 84 - 87 (2000)
)