The present study investigated the effects of different classes of cannabinoid (CB) receptor ligands on sensory neurotransmission in the rat isolated mesenteric arterial bed. Electrical field stimulation of the mesenteric bed evoked frequency-dependent vasorelaxation due to the activation of capsaicin-sensitive sensory nerves and release of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). The CB 1 /CB 2 cannabinoid agonists WIN55,212 The inhibitory actions of both THC and JWH-015 were still evident in the presence of SR141716A (1 M) and SR144528 (1 M). None of the cannabinoid agonists investigated had an effect on vasorelaxation elicited by exogenous CGRP, indicating a prejunctional mechanism. These data demonstrate that different classes of cannabinoid agonists attenuate sensory neurotransmission via a prejunctional site and provide evidence for mediation by a CB 1 and/or a non-CB 1 /CB 2 receptor.Two cannabinoid receptor subtypes, both G protein-linked, have been isolated and cloned to date; the CB 1 receptor is found mainly in the central nervous system and some peripheral nerve terminals, and the CB 2 receptor is associated mainly with immune tissues (Pertwee, 1999). There is evidence, however, that the cannabinoid receptor classification is incomplete. There are data that suggest the presence of multiple CB 1 subtypes in the spinal cord (Welch et al., 1998), and putative CB 2 -like receptors have been implicated in antinociceptive and hypotensive effects of cannabinoid agonists (Hanuš et al., 1999;Calignano et al., 2001). Experiments using CB receptor knockout mice have uncovered a putative novel cannabinoid receptor in the mouse brain (Di Marzo et al., 2000;Breivogel et al., 2001;Há jos et al., 2001;Monory et al., 2002). In addition, studies of the rat mesentery have described a novel anandamide-sensitive, SR141716A-sensitive endothelial receptor (Já rai et al., 1999). Recently, Zygmunt et al. (2002) reported that ⌬ 9 -tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol induce a CB 1 /CB 2 -independent release of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) from capsaicin-sensitive nerves in isolated rat and mouse mesenteric arterial rings that could be blocked by the vanilloid receptor (TRPV1) blocker ruthenium red but that was still present in TRPV1 knockout animals.Capsaicin-sensitive sensory nerves are widely distributed in the cardiovascular system and have a dual function; an afferent function whereby they participate in reflex activation of motor nerves, and an efferent function, whereby neurotransmitter is released from the nerve terminal being stimulated (Maggi and Meli, 1988). Studies on dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and F-11 cells (DRG ϫ neuroblastoma hybridomas) indicate that both CB 1 and CB 2 receptor proteins exist in these cells (Ross et al., 2001). However, only CB 1 receptors have been demonstrated to be transported from DRG cell bodies to the periphery of the sensory nerves (Hohmann and Herkenham, 1999).Recently, functional evidence has been provided which This study was supported by Servier and the Univers...