http://nycity.today/content/286131-high-offered-running-could-be-comparable-marijuana-high
High offered by Running could be comparable to marijuana high
Earlier, researchers suggested that the endorphins released after running are responsible for the relaxed and feel good sensation that the runner gets after a strenuous stretch of running.
Endorphins are natural painkillers and earlier studies have revealed that intense physical activity leads to massive spikes in this compound. This led researchers to believe that it was the release of endorphins that was responsible for runners experiencing the feeling known as 'runner's high'.
However, later studies suggested that the size of the endorphin molecules is too large to fit in the blood barrier of the brain and to attach themselves to the receptors of the brain.
Researchers from the Central Institute of Mental Health of the University of Heidelberg have found other compounds, called endocannabinoids, that may lead to the feeling called 'runner's high'. After an intense and long run, our body produces beta-endorphin called opioid as well as anandamide called endocannabinoid.
Endocannabinoids aren't naturally produced in the body. Studies have shown its numbers spike after intensive exercise. This molecule is also found in marijuana or cannabis.
In an experiment conducted on rodents, researchers found that rodents experienced something like a runner's high. When the researchers blocked the endorphin effect, the behavior of the mice remained unaffected. However, when they blocked endocannabinoids, the rodents weren't relaxed or calm anymore.
This led the researchers to conclude that it wasn't endorphins that caused the high but endocannabinoids.
Endorphins are natural chemicals that body produce and have pain relief qualities similar to morphine. When people do intense workouts then the stretching and tearing of muscle makes the body to increase endorphin production.
To know more on the topic, the researchers conducted the research. The team at the University of Heidelberg ran three experiments with mice to find which chemical in reality is responsible for runner’s high.
Study’s lead author Dr. Johannes Fuss said that they placed a running wheel in a mouse’s cage. They can voluntarily run and covered great distances like 10km/ day or 12km/day. “They're really motivated to run; there are strong biological processes motivating these mice to run in running wheels, therefore they're a good model to study why humans are motivated to do exercise”, said Fuss.
Study researchers worked with two groups of mice, one was allowed to run in their cages and other one was not. Anxiety and sensitivity to pain was measured in both the groups. Study researchers found that the group that was allowed to run had higher levels of endocannabinoids.
In the next experiment, the researchers gave drugs to mice to first block endorphins and then endocannabinoids while running. When endorphins were blocked then mice’ anxiety and sensitivity to pain reduced to normal level. When endocannabinoids were blocked, mice did not feel to enjoy the benefits of running.
In the third experiment, researchers bred mice genetically altered so they do not have cannabinoid receptors in their brains. These mice when put in the cages ran as normal and later lost interest in the activity. This led the researchers to find out that endocannabinoids are responsible for the high from running.
High offered by Running could be comparable to marijuana high
Earlier, researchers suggested that the endorphins released after running are responsible for the relaxed and feel good sensation that the runner gets after a strenuous stretch of running.
Endorphins are natural painkillers and earlier studies have revealed that intense physical activity leads to massive spikes in this compound. This led researchers to believe that it was the release of endorphins that was responsible for runners experiencing the feeling known as 'runner's high'.
However, later studies suggested that the size of the endorphin molecules is too large to fit in the blood barrier of the brain and to attach themselves to the receptors of the brain.
Researchers from the Central Institute of Mental Health of the University of Heidelberg have found other compounds, called endocannabinoids, that may lead to the feeling called 'runner's high'. After an intense and long run, our body produces beta-endorphin called opioid as well as anandamide called endocannabinoid.
Endocannabinoids aren't naturally produced in the body. Studies have shown its numbers spike after intensive exercise. This molecule is also found in marijuana or cannabis.
In an experiment conducted on rodents, researchers found that rodents experienced something like a runner's high. When the researchers blocked the endorphin effect, the behavior of the mice remained unaffected. However, when they blocked endocannabinoids, the rodents weren't relaxed or calm anymore.
This led the researchers to conclude that it wasn't endorphins that caused the high but endocannabinoids.
Endorphins are natural chemicals that body produce and have pain relief qualities similar to morphine. When people do intense workouts then the stretching and tearing of muscle makes the body to increase endorphin production.
To know more on the topic, the researchers conducted the research. The team at the University of Heidelberg ran three experiments with mice to find which chemical in reality is responsible for runner’s high.
Study’s lead author Dr. Johannes Fuss said that they placed a running wheel in a mouse’s cage. They can voluntarily run and covered great distances like 10km/ day or 12km/day. “They're really motivated to run; there are strong biological processes motivating these mice to run in running wheels, therefore they're a good model to study why humans are motivated to do exercise”, said Fuss.
Study researchers worked with two groups of mice, one was allowed to run in their cages and other one was not. Anxiety and sensitivity to pain was measured in both the groups. Study researchers found that the group that was allowed to run had higher levels of endocannabinoids.
In the next experiment, the researchers gave drugs to mice to first block endorphins and then endocannabinoids while running. When endorphins were blocked then mice’ anxiety and sensitivity to pain reduced to normal level. When endocannabinoids were blocked, mice did not feel to enjoy the benefits of running.
In the third experiment, researchers bred mice genetically altered so they do not have cannabinoid receptors in their brains. These mice when put in the cages ran as normal and later lost interest in the activity. This led the researchers to find out that endocannabinoids are responsible for the high from running.
