2-Arachidonoyl glycerol-d8 (2-AG-d8) is intended for use as an internal standard for the quantification of 2-AG by GC- or LC-MS. 2-AG is an endogenous agonist of the CB1 receptor.1,2 Unlike anandamide, 2-AG is present at relatively high levels in the central nervous system; it is the most abundant molecular species of monoacylglycerol found in rat brain.1,3 Formation of 2-AG is calcium-dependent and is mediated by the activities of phospholipase C and diacylglycerol lipase.1 2-AG acts as a full agonist at the CB1 receptor. At a concentration of 0.3 nM, 2-AG induces a rapid, transient increase in intracellular free calcium in NG108-15 neuroblastoma X glioma cells through a receptor-dependent mechanism.4
1.Stella, N., Schweitzer, P., and Piomelli, D.A second endogenous cannabinoid that modulates long-term potentiationNature388(6644)773-778(1997) 2.Sugiura, T., Kodaka, T., Nakane, S., et al.Evidence that the cannabinoid CB1 receptor is a 2-arachidonoylglycerol receptor. Structure-activity relationship of 2-arachidonoylglycerol, ether-linked analogues, and related compoundsJ. Biol. Chem.274(5)2794-2801(1999) 3.Kondo, S., Kondo, H., Nakane, S., et al.2-Arachidonoylglycerol, an endogenous cannabinoid receptor agonist: Identification as one of the major species of monoacylglycerols in various rat tissues, and evidence for its generation through Ca2+-dependent and -independent mechanismsFEBS Letters429(2)152-156(1998) 4.Sugiura, T., Kodaka, T., Kondo, S., et al.Is the cannabinoid CB1 receptor a 2-arachidonoylglycerol receptor• Structural requirements for triggering a Ca2+ transient in NG108-15 cellsJ. Biochem.122(4)890-895(1997)