孕烯醇酮可保护大脑免于大麻影响_英语科普

孕烯醇酮可保护大脑免于大麻影响

文章来源：未知文章作者：enread 发布时间：2014-01-05 08:28 字体： [大中小]　进入论坛

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Two INSERM research teams led by Pier¹ Vincenzo Piazza² and Giovanni Marsicano (INSERM Unit 862 "Neurocentre Magendie" in Bordeaux) recently discovered that pregnenolone（孕烯醇酮）, a molecule³ produced by the brain, acts as a natural defence mechanism⁴ against the harmful effects of cannabis in animals. Pregnenolone prevents THC, the main active principle in cannabis, from fully⁵ activating⁶ its brain receptor, the CB1 receptor, that when overstimulated by THC causes the intoxicating⁷ effects of cannabis. By identifying this mechanism, the INSERM teams are already developing new approaches for the treatment of cannabis addiction⁸. These results are to be published in Science on 3 January.

Over 20 million people around the world are addicted⁹ to cannabis, including a little more than a half million people in France. In the last few years, cannabis addiction has become one of the main reasons for seeking treatment in addiction clinics. Cannabis consumption is particularly high (30%) in individuals between 16 to 24 years old, a population that is especially susceptible¹⁰ to the harmful effects of the drug.

While cannabis consumers are seeking a state of relaxation¹¹, well-being¹² and altered perception, there are many dangers associated to a regular consumption of cannabis. Two major behavioural problems are associated with regular cannabis use in humans: cognitive¹³ deficits¹⁴ and a general loss of motivation. Thus, in addition to being extremely dependent on the drug, regular users of cannabis show signs of memory loss and a lack of motivation that make quite hard their social insertion.

The main active ingredient in cannabis, THC, acts on the brain through CB1 cannabinoid receptors located in the neurons. THC binds¹⁵ to these receptors diverting them from their physiological¹⁶ roles, such as regulating food intake¹⁷, metabolism¹⁸, cognitive processes and pleasure. When THC overstimulates CB1 receptors, it triggers a reduction in memory abilities, motivation and gradually leads to dependence¹⁹.

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1 pier
n.码头；桥墩，桥柱；[建]窗间壁，支柱
参考例句：
The pier of the bridge has been so badly damaged that experts worry it is unable to bear weight.这座桥的桥桩破损厉害，专家担心它已不能负重。 The ship was making towards the pier.船正驶向码头。

2 piazza
n.广场；走廊
参考例句：
Siena's main piazza was one of the sights of Italy.锡耶纳的主要广场是意大利的名胜之一。 They walked out of the cafeteria,and across the piazzadj.他们走出自助餐厅,穿过广场。

3 molecule
n.分子，克分子
参考例句：
A molecule of water is made up of two atoms of hygrogen and one atom of oxygen.一个水分子是由P妈?f婘??妈?成的。 This gives us the structural formula of the molecule.这种方式给出了分子的结构式。

4 mechanism
n.机械装置；机构，结构
参考例句：
The bones and muscles are parts of the mechanism of the body.骨骼和肌肉是人体的组成部件。 The mechanism of the machine is very complicated.这台机器的结构是非常复杂的。

5 fully
adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地
参考例句：
The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。 They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

6 activating
活动的，活性的
参考例句：
"I didn't say we'd got to stop activating the masses! “我并没说就此不发动！来自子夜部分 Presumably both the very small size and activating influence of fluorine atoms contribute to this exception. 这大概是由于氟原子半径小和活性高这两个原因的影响，氟原子对这种例外做出了贡献。

7 intoxicating
a. 醉人的,使人兴奋的
参考例句：
Power can be intoxicating. 权力能让人得意忘形。 On summer evenings the flowers gave forth an almost intoxicating scent. 夏日的傍晚，鲜花散发出醉人的芳香。

8 addiction
n.上瘾入迷，嗜好
参考例句：
He stole money from his parents to feed his addiction.他从父母那儿偷钱以满足自己的嗜好。 Areas of drug dealing are hellholes of addiction,poverty and murder.贩卖毒品的地区往往是吸毒上瘾、贫困和发生谋杀的地方。

9 addicted
adj.沉溺于....的，对...上瘾的
参考例句：
He was addicted to heroin at the age of 17.他17岁的时候对海洛因上了瘾。 She's become addicted to love stories.她迷上了爱情小说。

10 susceptible
adj.过敏的，敏感的；易动感情的，易受感动的
参考例句：
Children are more susceptible than adults.孩子比成人易受感动。 We are all susceptible to advertising.我们都易受广告的影响。

11 relaxation
n.松弛，放松；休息；消遣；娱乐
参考例句：
The minister has consistently opposed any relaxation in the law.部长一向反对法律上的任何放宽。 She listens to classical music for relaxation.她听古典音乐放松。

12 well-being
n.安康，安乐，幸福
参考例句：
He always has the well-being of the masses at heart.他总是把群众的疾苦挂在心上。 My concern for their well-being was misunderstood as interference.我关心他们的幸福，却被误解为多管闲事。

13 cognitive
adj.认知的，认识的，有感知的
参考例句：
As children grow older,their cognitive processes become sharper.孩子们越长越大，他们的认知过程变得更为敏锐。 The cognitive psychologist is like the tinker who wants to know how a clock works.认知心理学者倒很像一个需要通晓钟表如何运转的钟表修理匠。

14 deficits
n.不足额( deficit的名词复数 )；赤字；亏空；亏损
参考例句：
The Ministry of Finance consistently overestimated its budget deficits. 财政部一贯高估预算赤字。来自《简明英汉词典》 Many of the world's farmers are also incurring economic deficits. 世界上许多农民还在遭受经济上的亏损。来自辞典例句

15 binds
v.约束( bind的第三人称单数 )；装订；捆绑；（用长布条）缠绕
参考例句：
Frost binds the soil. 霜使土壤凝结。来自《简明英汉词典》 Stones and cement binds strongly. 石头和水泥凝固得很牢。来自《简明英汉词典》

16 physiological
adj.生理学的，生理学上的
参考例句：
He bought a physiological book.他买了一本生理学方面的书。 Every individual has a physiological requirement for each nutrient.每个人对每种营养成分都有一种生理上的需要。

17 intake
n.吸入，纳入；进气口，入口
参考例句：
Reduce your salt intake.减少盐的摄入量。 There was a horrified intake of breath from every child.所有的孩子都害怕地倒抽了一口凉气。

18 metabolism
n.新陈代谢
参考例句：
After years of dieting,Carol's metabolism was completely out of whack.经过数年的节食，卡罗尔的新陈代谢完全紊乱了。 All living matter undergoes a process of metabolism.生物都有新陈代谢。

19 dependence
n.依靠，依赖；信任，信赖；隶属
参考例句：
Doctors keep trying to break her dependence of the drug.医生们尽力使她戒除毒瘾。 He was freed from financial dependence on his parents.他在经济上摆脱了对父母的依赖。

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