Palmitoylethanolamide causes dose-dependent changes in brain function and the lipidome
Laboratory studyOther animals
- Design
- Laboratory study
- Subjects
- 68 female rats across imaging, behaviour and lipid experiments
- Dose used in the study
- A single injection into the abdomen of 3, 10 or 30 mg/kg, or vehicle
- Duration
- Single dose, with brain imaging while awake
- What was measured
- Brain activity and connectivity on functional MRI, behaviour tests, and levels of lipids in blood and brain.
What the authors reported
An inverse dose response appeared in one imaging measure, with the lowest dose producing the largest effect, alongside a dose-dependent rise in functional connectivity. Brain levels of palmitoylethanolamide rose at 30 mg/kg, while anandamide and more than 20 other lipids fell across brain regions. In total, 51 of the 78 endolipids detected were altered in at least one brain region.
Limits of this study
A laboratory study in rats, given by injection, at a single time point. It shows that the compound reaches the brain and changes lipid levels in rats. It does not show an effect in patients. The fall in anandamide runs against the entourage proposal. Two authors hold a partnership interest in Ekam Imaging, a company that makes MRI electronics and atlases for animal research; the others declared no conflict. The funding statement was not visible on the page checked.
Source
PubMed 39664446 · doi:10.3389/fnins.2024.1506352
Entry checked against the full text at the publisher (Frontiers) on 2026-10-19. The dose shown is the dose the researchers used. It is not a recommendation. How to read this page.