RESUMEN
Resumen Aproximadamente a partir del año 2010, los usos terapéuticos del cannabis se han extendido en nuestras sociedades latinoamericanas. Dichas terapias se construyen mayormente en el ámbito doméstico y en redes por fuera de instituciones oficiales de salud. Así, la biomedicina tiende a subalternatizar cualquier saber-hacer alternativo al modelo médico hegemónico. Nuestro objetivo es describir cómo se produce saber-hacer popular en torno a los usos terapéuticos del cannabis, identificando las tensiones y diferencias con la biomedicina. Metodológicamente nos basamos en experiencias documentadas en investigaciones propias y de otres, para construir una descripción sobre ese saber-hacer popular en contraste con el biomédico. Nuestros resultados dan cuenta de las singularidades epistémicas, metodológicas y valorativas en la construcción de los usos terapéuticos del cannabis, acompañada de una negación autoridad epistémica y marginalización en la producción, circulación y reconocimiento sobre su valor terapéutico. Recurrimos al concepto de violencia epistémica como analizador para comprender dicho proceso violencia que en ocasiones puede abonar a una violencia institucional. Consideramos necesario visibilizar la violencia epistémica que impide el desarrollo de saberes, conocimientos y terapias alternativos que vienen a complementar y (re)crear, y no a reemplazar, formas de pensar e intervenir en el ámbito salud.
Resumo Aproximadamente a partir do ano de 2010, os usos terapêuticos da cannabis se difundiram em nossas sociedades latino-americanas. Essas terapias são construídas maioritariamente no âmbito doméstico e em redes fora das instituições oficiais de saúde. Assim, a biomedicina tende a subordinar qualquer saber-fazer alternativo ao modelo médico hegemônico. Nosso objetivo é descrever como se produz um saber-fazer popular sobre usos terapêuticos da cannabis, identificando as tensões e diferenças com a biomedicina. Metodologicamente, nos baseamos em experiências documentadas em pesquisas próprias e alheias, para construir uma descrição desse saber-fazer popular em contraste com o biomédico. Nossos resultados dão conta da singularidade das características epistêmicas, metodológicas e dos valores da construção de usos terapêuticos da cannabis, à qual é negada autoridade epistêmica e se atribui um papel marginal na produção, circulação e reconhecimento. Nesse sentido, recorremos ao conceito de violência epistêmica para compreender esse processo. Essa violência, além disso, às vezes pode contribuir para a violência institucional. Consideramos necessário dar visibilidade à violência epistêmica que impede o desenvolvimento de saberes alternativos, saberes e terapias que complementem e (re)criem, e não substituam, modos de pensar e intervir no campo da saúde.
Abstract Approximately since the year 2010, the therapeutic uses of cannabis have spread in our Latin American societies. These therapies are mostly built in domestic contexts and in networks apart of official health institutions. In this sense, biomedicine tends to subordinate any alternative know-how to the hegemonic medical model. Our objective is to describe how the popular know-how around therapeutic uses of cannabis is produced, identifying the tensions and differences with biomedicine. Methodologically, we build a description of this popular know-how, in contrast to biomedicine, based on experiences documented in previous research. Our results account for the uniqueness of the epistemic, methodological, and values characteristics of the construction of therapeutic uses of cannabis, for which epistemic authority is denied and a marginal role in the production, circulation, and recognition of its therapeutic value is assigned. We appeal to the concept of epistemic violence to understand this process. Moreover, this violence can sometimes contribute to institutional violence. We consider it necessary to make visible the epistemic violence that prevents the development of alternative knowledge and therapies that complement and (re)create, but not replace, ways of thinking and intervening in health issues.
RESUMEN
A variety of glial cell functions are supported by connexin and pannexin proteins. These functions include the modulation of synaptic gain, the control of excitability through regulation of the ion and neurotransmitter composition of the extracellular milieu and the promotion of neuronal survival. Connexins and pannexins support these functions through diverse molecular mechanisms, including channel and non-channel functions. The former comprise the formation of gap junction-mediated networks supported by connexin intercellular channels and the formation of pore-like membrane structures or hemichannels formed by both connexins and pannexins. Non-channel functions involve adhesion properties and the participation in signaling intracellular cascades. Pathological conditions of the nervous system such as ischemia, neurodegeneration, pathogen infection, trauma and tumors are characterized by distinctive remodeling of connexin expression and function. However, whether these changes can be interpreted as part of the pathogenesis, or as beneficial compensatory effects, remains under debate. Here we review the available evidence addressing this matter with a special emphasis in mouse models with selective manipulation of glial connexin and pannexin proteins in vivo. We postulate that the beneficial vs. detrimental effects of glial connexin remodeling in pathological conditions depend on the impact of remodeling on the different connexin and pannexin channel and non-channel functions, on the characteristics of the inflammatory environment and on the type of interaction among glial cells types.
RESUMEN
Many functions of glial cells depend on the formation of selective glial networks mediated by gap junctions formed by members of the connexin family. Olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) are specialized glia associated with olfactory sensory neuron axons. Like other glia, they form selective networks, however, the connexins that support OEC connectivity in vivo have not been identified. We used an in vivo mouse model to selectively delete candidate connexin genes with temporal control from OECs and address the physiological consequences. Using this model, we effectively abolished the expression of connexin 43 (Cx43) in OECs in both juvenile and adult mice. Cx43-deleted OECs exhibited features consistent with the loss of gap junctions including reduced membrane conductance, largely reduced sensitivity to the gap junction blocker meclofenamic acid and loss of dye coupling. This indicates that Cx43, a typically astrocytic connexin, is the main connexin forming functional channels in OECs. Despite these changes in functional properties, the deletion of Cx43 deletion did not alter the density of OECs. The strategy used here may prove useful to delete other candidate genes to better understand the functional roles of OECs in vivo.