The potential for cannabinoids to improve vision
Researchers from Canada and the United States have found that endocannabinoids may increase the sensitivity of the visual analyzer. These experiments clearly demonstrate the ability to improve night vision, not only mammals but also human.
Scientists have examined the effects of cannabinoids on the vision of tadpoles. Amphibian larvae are alternately introduced various chemical compounds with synthetic cannabinoids. Multiple repetitions of the experiment showed that cannabinoids enhance retinal ganglion cell activity eye. This was due to activation CB1R cannabinoid receptor located on the outside of the cell wall. As a result of the activation CB1R decreased levels of chloride, took place hyperpolarization of the cell membrane and formed electrical impulses neurons with greater frequency. Due to the sensitivity of the hyperpolarization of the tadpoles grown, which gave them the ability to better distinguish faint objects at a low light.
"Our work has clarified the mechanism of regulation of frequency of electrical impulses in the brain using cannabinoids. It is essential to confirm the results obtained in the study of mammals. Further studies will be conducted in the retina of mice eyes, and in the future of man "- said Ed Rutheyzer (Ed Ruthazer - Professor of Neurology and Neurosurgery at McGill University Neurological Institute, Canada).
The researcher says that at the moment too early to suggest that cannabinoids produce a similar effect on the retina of the human eye, however, which significantly improved night vision after the literature has repeatedly cases of fishermen described as in their diet they used foods rich cannabinoids.
Data obtained from studies of the Montreal Neurological Institute (McGill University) have been confirmed by the Institute of Mental Health of Quebec (Laval University) and four US universities.
Information taken from the site http://tku.org.ua