Beeinflussung gastrointestinaler Motilität und Entzündung durch atypische Cannabinoide - Einfluss des GPR55-Cannabinoidrezeptors

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Martin Storr
• Subject Area: Gastroenterology
• Term: from 2010 to 2015
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 190444127

Functional gastrointestinal disorders are frequent reasons for patients to seek medical help and are associated with impaired quality of life. Prevalence of dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome range from 10 to 15 %. Drug treatment options of these functional disorders are limited and mostly consist of different symptomatic therapeutic approaches. Interestingly functional gastrointestinal disorders are more frequent in females, at least females more frequently seek medical advice.The GPR30 receptor is a recently reported receptor which was shown to be a possible target for estrogens. Localisation and function of this receptor are unknown. The suggested project wants to investigate whether GPR30 receptors are localized in the gastrointestinal tract and if so, to identify the functional meaning of these receptors. Our translational approach comprises in vitro and in vivo studies in mice and in vitro studies in human tissue. Employing PCR and immunohistochemistry we aim to localize GPR 30 in the gastrointestinal tract followed by in vitro pharmacological and electrophysiological experiments that will allow us to comment on the possible functional relevance of GPR30 in the control of gastrointestinal function. Building on these experiments we intend to perform experiments in in vivo models mimicking symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome in order to identify possible GPR30 actions on gastrointestinal secretion, motility, diarrhoea and visceral sensation. Selected in vitro experiments and stainings will be reproduced in human tissues to allow discussion of the observations made in the context of human and to facilitate future more targeted investigation of GPR30 receptor in the context of functional gastrointestinal disorders.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants