“There is evidence of altered vascular function, including cerebrovascular, in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and transgenic models of the disease.
Indeed vasoconstrictor responses are increased, while vasodilation is reduced in both conditions. β-Amyloid (Aβ) appears to be responsible, at least in part, of alterations in vascular function.
Cannabinoids, neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory agents, induce vasodilation both in vivo and in vitro.
We have demonstrated a beneficial effect of cannabinoids in models of AD by preventing glial activation.
In this work we have studied the effects of these compounds on vessel density in amyloid precursor protein (APP) transgenic mice, line 2576, and on altered vascular responses in aortae isolated ring.
In summary, we have confirmed and extended the existence of altered vascular responses in Tg APP mice.
Moreover, our results suggest that treatment with cannabinoids may ameliorate the vascular responses in AD-type pathology.”