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Wu X, Zhang W, Chen H, Weng J. Multifaceted paternal exposures before conception and their epigenetic impact on offspring. J Assist Reprod Genet 2024:10.1007/s10815-024-03243-1. [PMID: 39230664 DOI: 10.1007/s10815-024-03243-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2024] [Accepted: 08/27/2024] [Indexed: 09/05/2024] Open
Abstract
As scientific research progresses, there is an increasing understanding of the importance of paternal epigenetics in influencing the health and developmental path of offspring. Prior to conception, the environmental exposures and lifestyle choices of fathers can significantly influence the epigenetic state of sperm, including DNA methylation and histone changes, among other factors. These alterations in epigenetic patterns have the potential for transgenerational transmission potential and may exert profound effects on the biological characteristics of descendants. Paternal epigenetic changes not only affect the regulation of gene expression patterns in offspring but also increase the risk to certain diseases. It is crucial to comprehend the conditions that fathers are exposed to before conception and the potential outcomes of these conditions. This understanding is essential for assessing personal reproductive decisions and anticipating health risks for future generations. This review article systematically summarizes and analyzes current research findings regarding how paternal pre-pregnancy exposures influence offspring as well as elucidates underlying mechanisms, aiming to provide a comprehensive perspective for an enhanced understanding of the impact that paternal factors have on offspring health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojing Wu
- Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Weiping Zhang
- The Second People's Hospital Affiliated to Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Huijun Chen
- The Second People's Hospital Affiliated to Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Jianfei Weng
- The Second People's Hospital Affiliated to Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian, China.
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2
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Lo JO, Hedges JC, Chou WH, Tager KR, Bachli ID, Hagen OL, Murphy SK, Hanna CB, Easley CA. Influence of substance use on male reproductive health and offspring outcomes. Nat Rev Urol 2024; 21:534-564. [PMID: 38664544 DOI: 10.1038/s41585-024-00868-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/30/2024]
Abstract
The prevalence of substance use globally is rising and is highest among men of reproductive age. In Africa, and South and Central America, cannabis use disorder is most prevalent and in Eastern and South-Eastern Europe, Central America, Canada and the USA, opioid use disorder predominates. Substance use might be contributing to the ongoing global decline in male fertility, and emerging evidence has linked paternal substance use with short-term and long-term adverse effects on offspring development and outcomes. This trend is concerning given that substance use is increasing, including during the COVID-19 pandemic. Preclinical studies have shown that male preconception substance use can influence offspring brain development and neurobehaviour through epigenetic mechanisms. Additionally, human studies investigating paternal health behaviours during the prenatal period suggest that paternal tobacco, opioid, cannabis and alcohol use is associated with reduced offspring mental health, in particular hyperactivity and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. The potential effects of paternal substance use are areas in which to focus public health efforts and health-care provider counselling of couples or individuals interested in conceiving.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamie O Lo
- Department of Urology, Oregon Heath & Science University, Portland, OR, USA.
- Division of Reproductive & Developmental Sciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA.
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA.
| | - Jason C Hedges
- Department of Urology, Oregon Heath & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
- Division of Reproductive & Developmental Sciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Wesley H Chou
- Department of Urology, Oregon Heath & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Kylie R Tager
- Department of Environmental Health Science, University of Georgia College of Public Health, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Ian D Bachli
- Department of Environmental Health Science, University of Georgia College of Public Health, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Olivia L Hagen
- Division of Reproductive & Developmental Sciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Susan K Murphy
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Carol B Hanna
- Division of Reproductive & Developmental Sciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Charles A Easley
- Department of Environmental Health Science, University of Georgia College of Public Health, Athens, GA, USA
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Hawkey AB, Natarajan S, Kelly O, Gondal A, Wells C, Jones ML, Rezvani AH, Murphy SK, Levin ED. Persisting neurobehavioral consequences of daily or intermittent paternal cannabis administration in F1 and F2 Rats. Neurotoxicology 2024; 103:27-38. [PMID: 38810733 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2024.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
Repeated paternal preconception exposure to Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) alone or together with the other constituents in a cannabis extract has been shown in our earlier studies in rats to cause significant neurobehavioral impairment in their offspring. In the current study, we compared the effects of daily cannabis extract (CE) exposure to cannabis on two consecutive days per week, modeling weekend cannabis use in human. The CE contained Δ9-THC as well as cannabidiol and cannabinol. We also extended the investigation of the study to cross-generational effects of grand-paternal cannabis exposure on the F2 generation and included testing the effects of paternal cannabis exposure on responding for opiate self-administration in F1 and F2 generation offspring. We replicated the findings of neurobehavioral impairment in F1 offspring of male rats exposed to cannabis extract containing 4 mg/kg/day of Δ9-THC daily for four weeks prior to mating with drug naïve females. The 4-week cannabis extract exposure caused a significant decrease in weight gain in the male rats exposed daily. In contrast, their offspring showed significantly greater body weights and anogenital distances (AGD) in the third to fourth weeks after birth. The behavioral effects seen in the F1 generation were increased habituation of locomotor activity in the figure-8 maze in female offspring and increased lever pressing for the opiate drug remifentanil in male offspring. The F2 generation showed significantly impaired negative geotaxis and an elimination of the typical sex-difference in locomotor activity, with effects not seen in the F1 generation. This study shows that daily paternal cannabis exposure for four weeks prior to mating causes significant neurobehavioral impairment in the F1 and F2 offspring. Intermittent exposure on two consecutive days per week for four weeks caused comparable neurobehavioral impairment. In sum, there should be concern about paternal as well as maternal exposure to cannabis concerning neurobehavioral development of their offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew B Hawkey
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Midwestern University, Downers Grove, IL, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Sarabesh Natarajan
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Olivia Kelly
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Anas Gondal
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Corinne Wells
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Michelle Louise Jones
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Amir H Rezvani
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Susan K Murphy
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Edward D Levin
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA.
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Riyahi J, Taslimi Z, Gelfo F, Petrosini L, Haghparast A. Trans-generational effects of parental exposure to drugs of abuse on offspring memory functions. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2024; 160:105644. [PMID: 38548003 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2024] [Revised: 03/10/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/01/2024]
Abstract
Recent evidence reported that parental-derived phenotypes can be passed on to the next generations. Within the inheritance of epigenetic characteristics allowing the transmission of information related to the ancestral environment to the offspring, the specific case of the trans-generational effects of parental drug addiction has been extensively studied. Drug addiction is a chronic disorder resulting from complex interactions among environmental, genetic, and drug-related factors. Repeated exposures to drugs induce epigenetic changes in the reward circuitry that in turn mediate enduring changes in brain function. Addictive drugs can exert their effects trans-generally and influence the offspring of addicted parents. Although there is growing evidence that shows a wide range of behavioral, physiological, and molecular phenotypes in inter-, multi-, and trans-generational studies, transmitted phenotypes often vary widely even within similar protocols. Given the breadth of literature findings, in the present review, we restricted our investigation to learning and memory performances, as examples of the offspring's complex behavioral outcomes following parental exposure to drugs of abuse, including morphine, cocaine, cannabinoids, nicotine, heroin, and alcohol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javad Riyahi
- Department of Cognitive and Behavioral Science and Technology in Sport, Faculty of Sport Sciences and Health, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zahra Taslimi
- Behavioral Disorders and Substance Abuse Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran; Fertility and Infertility Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.
| | - Francesca Gelfo
- IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy; Department of Human Sciences, Guglielmo Marconi University, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Abbas Haghparast
- Neuroscience Research Center, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; School of Cognitive Sciences, Institute for Research in Fundamental Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Basic Sciences, Iranian Academy of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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Jones SK, McCarthy DM, Stanwood GD, Schatschneider C, Bhide PG. Learning and memory deficits produced by aspartame are heritable via the paternal lineage. Sci Rep 2023; 13:14326. [PMID: 37652922 PMCID: PMC10471780 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-41213-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Environmental exposures produce heritable traits that can linger in the population for one or two generations. Millions of individuals consume substances such as artificial sweeteners daily that are declared safe by regulatory agencies without evaluation of their potential heritable effects. We show that consumption of aspartame, an FDA-approved artificial sweetener, daily for up to 16-weeks at doses equivalent to only 7-15% of the FDA recommended maximum daily intake value (equivalent to 2-4 small, 8 oz diet soda drinks per day) produces significant spatial learning and memory deficits in mice. Moreover, the cognitive deficits are transmitted to male and female descendants along the paternal lineage suggesting that aspartame's adverse cognitive effects are heritable, and that they are more pervasive than current estimates, which consider effects in the directly exposed individuals only. Traditionally, deleterious environmental exposures of pregnant and nursing women are viewed as risk factors for the health of future generations. Environmental exposures of men are not considered to pose similar risks. Our findings suggest that environmental exposures of men can produce adverse impact on cognitive function in future generations and demonstrate the need for considering heritable effects via the paternal lineage as part of the regulatory evaluations of artificial sweeteners.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara K Jones
- Biomedical Sciences, Florida State University College of Medicine, 1115, West Call Street, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA
| | - Deirdre M McCarthy
- Biomedical Sciences, Florida State University College of Medicine, 1115, West Call Street, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA
- Center for Brain Repair, Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA
| | - Gregg D Stanwood
- Biomedical Sciences, Florida State University College of Medicine, 1115, West Call Street, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA
- Center for Brain Repair, Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA
- Program in Neuroscience, Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA
| | - Christopher Schatschneider
- Program in Neuroscience, Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA
- Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA
| | - Pradeep G Bhide
- Biomedical Sciences, Florida State University College of Medicine, 1115, West Call Street, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA.
- Center for Brain Repair, Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA.
- Program in Neuroscience, Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA.
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Mazzeo F, Meccariello R. Cannabis and Paternal Epigenetic Inheritance. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:ijerph20095663. [PMID: 37174181 PMCID: PMC10177768 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20095663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Cannabis is the most widely used illicit drug in Western counties and its abuse is particularly high in male adolescents and young adults. Its main psychotropic component, the cannabinoid delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), interferes in the endogenous endocannabinoid system. This signaling system is involved in the control of many biological activities, including the formation of high-quality male gametes. Direct adverse effects of Δ9-THC in male reproduction are well known in both animal models and humans. Nevertheless, the possibility of long-term effects due to epigenetic mechanisms has recently been reported. In this review, we summarize the main advances in the field suggesting the need to pay attention to the possible long-term epigenetic risks for the reproductive health of cannabis users and the health of their offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filomena Mazzeo
- Dipartimento di Scienze Economiche, Giuridiche, Informatiche e Motorie, Università di Napoli Parthenope, Nola, 80035 Naples, Italy
- Department of Economics, Law, Cybersecurity and Sports Sciences, University of Naples "Parthenope", Nola, 80133 Naples, Italy
| | - Rosaria Meccariello
- Dipartimento di Scienze Motorie e del Benessere, Università di Napoli Parthenope, 80133 Napoli, Italy
- Department of Movement Sciences and Wellbeing, University "Parthenope", 80133 Naples, Italy
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Emerging Roles of Endocannabinoids as Key Lipid Mediators for a Successful Pregnancy. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24065220. [PMID: 36982295 PMCID: PMC10048990 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24065220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, Cannabis use/misuse for treating pregnancy-related symptoms and other chronic conditions has increased among pregnant women, favored by decriminalization and/or legalization of its recreational uses in addition to its easy accessibility. However, there is evidence that prenatal Cannabis exposure might have adverse consequences on pregnancy progression and a deleterious impact on proper neurodevelopmental trajectories in the offspring. Maternal Cannabis use could interfere with the complex and finely controlled role performed by the endocannabinoid system in reproductive physiology, impairing multiple gestational processes from blastocyst implantation to parturition, with long-lasting intergenerational effects. In this review, we discuss current clinical and preclinical evidence regarding the role of endocannabinoids in development, function, and immunity of the maternal–fetal interface, focusing on the impact of Cannabis constituents on each of these gestational processes. We also discuss the intrinsic limitations of the available studies and the future perspectives in this challenging research field.
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Truong VB, Davis OS, Gracey J, Neal MS, Khokhar JY, Favetta LA. Sperm capacitation and transcripts levels are altered by in vitro THC exposure. BMC Mol Cell Biol 2023; 24:6. [PMID: 36823609 PMCID: PMC9951432 DOI: 10.1186/s12860-023-00468-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the primary phytocannabinoid responsible for the psychoactive properties of cannabis and is known to interact with the endocannabinoid system, which is functionally present in the male reproductive system. Since cannabis consumption is the highest among reproductive aged males, the current study aimed to further investigate the effects of THC exposure to phenotypical, physiological, and molecular parameters in sperm. Bull sperm of known fertility were used as a translational model for human sperm and subjected to in vitro treatment with physiologically relevant experimental doses of THC. Sperm parameters, capacitation, apoptosis, and transcript levels were evaluated following treatment. RESULTS Motility, morphology, and viability of bovine sperm was unaltered from THC exposure. However, 0.32µM of THC caused an increased proportion of capacitating sperm (p < 0.05) compared to control and vehicle group sperm. Transcriptome analysis revealed that 39 genes were found to be differentially expressed by 0.032µM THC exposure, 196 genes were differentially expressed by 0.32µM THC exposure, and 33 genes were differentially expressed by 3.2µM THC. Secondary analysis reveals pathways involving development, nucleosomes, ribosomes and translation, and cellular metabolism to be significantly enriched. CONCLUSION Phytocannabinoid exposure to sperm may adversely affect sperm function by stimulating premature capacitation. These findings also show for the first time that spermatozoal transcripts may be altered by THC exposure. These results add to previous research demonstrating the molecular effects of cannabinoids on sperm and warrant further research into the effects of cannabis on male fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivien B Truong
- Reproductive Health and Biotechnology Lab, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd. East, N1G 2W1, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Ola S Davis
- Reproductive Health and Biotechnology Lab, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd. East, N1G 2W1, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Jade Gracey
- Reproductive Health and Biotechnology Lab, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd. East, N1G 2W1, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | | | - Jibran Y Khokhar
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Laura A Favetta
- Reproductive Health and Biotechnology Lab, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd. East, N1G 2W1, Guelph, ON, Canada.
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Sperm DNA methylation alterations from cannabis extract exposure are evident in offspring. Epigenetics Chromatin 2022; 15:33. [PMID: 36085240 PMCID: PMC9463823 DOI: 10.1186/s13072-022-00466-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Cannabis legalization is expanding and men are the predominant users. We have limited knowledge about how cannabis impacts sperm and whether the effects are heritable.
Results
Whole genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) data were generated for sperm of rats exposed to: (1) cannabis extract (CE) for 28 days, then 56 days of vehicle only (~ one spermatogenic cycle); (2) vehicle for 56 days, then 28 days of CE; or (3) vehicle only. Males were then mated with drug-naïve females to produce F1 offspring from which heart, brain, and sperm tissues underwent analyses. There were 3321 nominally significant differentially methylated CpGs in F0 sperm identified via WGBS with select methylation changes validated via bisulfite pyrosequencing. Significant methylation changes validated in F0 sperm of the exposed males at the gene 2-Phosphoxylose Phosphatase 1 (Pxylp1) were also detectable in their F1 sperm but not in controls. Changes validated in exposed F0 sperm at Metastasis Suppressor 1-Like Protein (Mtss1l) were also present in F1 hippocampal and nucleus accumbens (NAc) of the exposed group compared to controls. For Mtss1l, a significant sex-specific relationship between DNA methylation and gene expression was demonstrated in the F1 NAc. Phenotypically, rats born to CSE-exposed fathers exhibited significant cardiomegaly relative to those born to control fathers.
Conclusions
This is the first characterization of the effect of cannabis exposure on the entirety of the rat sperm methylome. We identified CE-associated methylation changes across the sperm methylome, some of which persisted despite a “washout” period. Select methylation changes validated via bisulfite pyrosequencing, and genes associated with methylation changes were involved in early developmental processes. Preconception CE exposure is associated with detectable changes in offspring DNA methylation that are functionally related to changes in gene expression and cardiomegaly.
These results support that paternal preconception exposure to cannabis can influence offspring outcomes.
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Reece AS, Hulse GK. Epidemiology of Δ8THC-Related Carcinogenesis in USA: A Panel Regression and Causal Inferential Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:7726. [PMID: 35805384 PMCID: PMC9265369 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19137726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Revised: 06/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The use of Δ8THC is increasing at present across the USA in association with widespread cannabis legalization and the common notion that it is "legal weed". As genotoxic actions have been described for many cannabinoids, we studied the cancer epidemiology of Δ8THC. Data on 34 cancer types was from the Centers for Disease Control Atlanta Georgia, substance abuse data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, ethnicity and income data from the U.S. Census Bureau, and cannabinoid concentration data from the Drug Enforcement Agency, were combined and processed in R. Eight cancers (corpus uteri, liver, gastric cardia, breast and post-menopausal breast, anorectum, pancreas, and thyroid) were related to Δ8THC exposure on bivariate testing, and 18 (additionally, stomach, Hodgkins, and Non-Hodgkins lymphomas, ovary, cervix uteri, gall bladder, oropharynx, bladder, lung, esophagus, colorectal cancer, and all cancers (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer)) demonstrated positive average marginal effects on fully adjusted inverse probability weighted interactive panel regression. Many minimum E-Values (mEVs) were infinite. p-values rose from 8.04 × 10-78. Marginal effect calculations revealed that 18 Δ8THC-related cancers are predicted to lead to a further 8.58 cases/100,000 compared to 7.93 for alcoholism and -8.48 for tobacco. Results indicate that between 8 and 20/34 cancer types were associated with Δ8THC exposure, with very high effect sizes (mEVs) and marginal effects after adjustment exceeding tobacco and alcohol, fulfilling the epidemiological criteria of causality and suggesting a cannabinoid class effect. The inclusion of pediatric leukemias and testicular cancer herein demonstrates heritable malignant teratogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albert Stuart Reece
- Division of Psychiatry, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia;
- School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA 6027, Australia
| | - Gary Kenneth Hulse
- Division of Psychiatry, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia;
- School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA 6027, Australia
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Mooney SM, Petrenko CL, Hamre KM, Brigman J. Proceedings of the 2021 annual meeting of the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Study Group. Alcohol 2022; 102:23-33. [PMID: 35597423 PMCID: PMC10084849 DOI: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2022.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Revised: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The 2021 meeting of the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Study Group (FASDSG) was titled "Role of Parental Experiences in Offspring Outcomes". The theme was reflected in the presentations of two keynote speakers: Edward Levin, Ph.D., who spoke about the role of paternal exposures in offspring development, and Catherine Monk, Ph.D., who spoke about the effects of maternal exposures and maternal mental health on offspring development. The conference included updates from three government agencies, short presentations by junior and senior investigators showcasing late-breaking FASD research, a report on international efforts to streamline FASD classifications for research, a presentation of observations from adults with FASD, a short film of people with FASDs describing their experiences, and a poster session. The conference was capped by awarding the 2021 Henry Rosett award for career-long contributions to the field to Cynthia J.M. Kane, Ph.D.
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Azadi M, Moazen P, Wiskerke J, Semnanian S, Azizi H. Preconception paternal morphine exposure leads to an impulsive phenotype in male rat progeny. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2021; 238:3435-3446. [PMID: 34427719 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-021-05962-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Identifying the long-term neurocognitive implications of opioid addiction may further our understanding of the compulsive nature of this brain disorder. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of paternal adolescent opiate exposure on cognitive performance (visual attention, impulsivity, and compulsivity) in the next generation. METHODS Male Wistar rats received escalating doses of morphine (2.5-25 mg/kg, s.c.) or saline for 10 days during adolescence (P30-39). In adulthood (P70-80), these rats were allowed to mate with drug-naive females. Male offspring from morphine- and saline-exposed sires, once in adulthood, were trained and tested in the 5-choice serial reaction time test (5-CSRTT) to evaluate their cognitive abilities under baseline, drug-free conditions as well as following acute (1, 3, 5 mg/kg morphine) and subchronic morphine (5 mg/kg morphine for 5 days) treatment. Behavioral effects of the opioid receptor antagonist naloxone were also assessed. RESULTS Morphine-sired offspring exhibited delayed learning when the shortest stimulus duration (1 s) was introduced, i.e., when cognitive load was highest. These subjects also exhibited a reduced ability to exert inhibitory control, as reflected by increased premature and perseverative responding under drug-free baseline conditions in comparison to saline-sired rats. These impairments could not be reversed by administration of naloxone. Moreover, impulsive behavior was further enhanced in morphine-sired rats following acute and subchronic morphine treatment. CONCLUSION Paternal opiate exposure during adolescence was found to primarily impair inhibitory control in male progeny. These results further our understanding of the long-term costs and risk of opioid abuse, extending across generations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Azadi
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Parisa Moazen
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Joost Wiskerke
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
| | - Saeed Semnanian
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hossein Azizi
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
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Slotkin TA, Levin ED, Seidler FJ. Paternal Cannabis Exposure Prior to Mating, but Not Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol, Elicits Deficits in Dopaminergic Synaptic Activity in the Offspring. Toxicol Sci 2021; 184:252-264. [PMID: 34590702 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfab117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The legalization and increasing availability of cannabis products raises concerns about the impact on offspring of users, and little has appeared on the potential contribution of paternal use. We administered cannabis extract to male rats prior to mating, with two different 28-day exposures, one where there was a 56-day interval between the end of exposure and mating ("Early Cannabis"), and one just prior to mating ("Late Cannabis"); the extract delivered 4 mg/kg/day of the main psychoactive component, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol. We then assessed the impact on dopamine (DA) systems in the offspring from the onset of adolescence (postnatal day 30) through middle age (postnatal day 150), measuring the levels of DA and its primary metabolite, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) in various brain regions. Paternal cannabis with either regimen elicited a profound and persistent deficit in DA utilization (DOPAC/DA ratio) in the offspring, indicative of subnormal presynaptic activity. However, the two regimens differed in the underlying mechanism, with Early Cannabis reducing DOPAC whereas Late Cannabis increased DA and elicited a smaller reduction in DOPAC. Effects were restricted to male offspring. The effects of cannabis were not reproduced by equivalent exposure to its Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol, nor did we see the effects with perinatal exposure to tobacco smoke or some of its fetotoxic contributors (benzo[a]pyrene without or with nicotine). Our studies provide some of the first evidence for adverse effects of paternal cannabis administration on neurodevelopment in the offspring, and reinforce the important consequences of paternal drug use in the preconception period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theodore A Slotkin
- Department of Pharmacology & Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA
| | - Edward D Levin
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA
| | - Frederic J Seidler
- Department of Pharmacology & Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA
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14
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McCarthy DM, Bhide PG. Heritable consequences of paternal nicotine exposure: from phenomena to mechanisms†. Biol Reprod 2021; 105:632-643. [PMID: 34126634 PMCID: PMC8444703 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioab116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Revised: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Our understanding of the interactions between genetic and environmental factors in shaping behavioral phenotypes has expanded to include environment-induced epigenetic modifications and the intriguing possibility of their association with heritable behavioral phenotypes. The molecular basis of heritability of phenotypes arising from environment-induced epigenetic modifications is not well defined yet. However, phenomenological evidence in favor of it is accumulating rapidly. The resurgence of interest has led to focus on epigenetic modification of germ cells as a plausible mechanism of heritability. Perhaps partly because of practical reasons such as ease of access to male germ cells compared to female germ cells, attention has turned toward heritable effects of environmental influences on male founders. Public health implications of heritable effects of paternal exposures to addictive substances or to psycho-social factors may be enormous. Considering nicotine alone, over a billion people worldwide use nicotine-containing products, and the majority are men. Historically, the adverse effects of nicotine use by pregnant women received much attention by scientists and public policy experts alike. The implications of nicotine use by men for the physical and mental well-being of their children were not at the forefront of research until recently. Here, we review progress in the emerging field of heritable effects of paternal nicotine exposure and its implications for behavioral health of individuals in multiple generations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deirdre M McCarthy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA
| | - Pradeep G Bhide
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA
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15
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Lee K, Hardy DB. Metabolic Consequences of Gestational Cannabinoid Exposure. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:9528. [PMID: 34502436 PMCID: PMC8430813 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22179528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Revised: 08/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Up to 20% of pregnant women ages 18-24 consume cannabis during pregnancy. Moreover, clinical studies indicate that cannabis consumption during pregnancy leads to fetal growth restriction (FGR), which is associated with an increased risk of obesity, type II diabetes (T2D), and cardiovascular disease in the offspring. This is of great concern considering that the concentration of Δ9- tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), a major psychoactive component of cannabis, has doubled over the last decade and can readily cross the placenta and enter fetal circulation, with the potential to negatively impact fetal development via the endocannabinoid (eCB) system. Cannabis exposure in utero could also lead to FGR via placental insufficiency. In this review, we aim to examine current pre-clinical and clinical findings on the direct effects of exposure to cannabis and its constituents on fetal development as well as indirect effects, namely placental insufficiency, on postnatal metabolic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kendrick Lee
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, 1151 Richmond Street, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada;
- The Children’s Health Research Institute, The Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Daniel B. Hardy
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, 1151 Richmond Street, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada;
- The Children’s Health Research Institute, The Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond Street, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada
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16
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Breton CV, Landon R, Kahn LG, Enlow MB, Peterson AK, Bastain T, Braun J, Comstock SS, Duarte CS, Hipwell A, Ji H, LaSalle JM, Miller RL, Musci R, Posner J, Schmidt R, Suglia SF, Tung I, Weisenberger D, Zhu Y, Fry R. Exploring the evidence for epigenetic regulation of environmental influences on child health across generations. Commun Biol 2021; 4:769. [PMID: 34158610 PMCID: PMC8219763 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-02316-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Environmental exposures, psychosocial stressors and nutrition are all potentially important influences that may impact health outcomes directly or via interactions with the genome or epigenome over generations. While there have been clear successes in large-scale human genetic studies in recent decades, there is still a substantial amount of missing heritability to be elucidated for complex childhood disorders. Mounting evidence, primarily in animals, suggests environmental exposures may generate or perpetuate altered health outcomes across one or more generations. One putative mechanism for these environmental health effects is via altered epigenetic regulation. This review highlights the current epidemiologic literature and supporting animal studies that describe intergenerational and transgenerational health effects of environmental exposures. Both maternal and paternal exposures and transmission patterns are considered, with attention paid to the attendant ethical, legal and social implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carrie V Breton
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - Remy Landon
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Linda G Kahn
- Department of Pediatrics, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Michelle Bosquet Enlow
- Department of Psychiatry, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Alicia K Peterson
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Theresa Bastain
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Joseph Braun
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Sarah S Comstock
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Cristiane S Duarte
- Department of Psychiatry, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center and New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Alison Hipwell
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Hong Ji
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Cell Biology, School of Veterinary Medicine, California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Janine M LaSalle
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, MIND Institute, Genome Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | | | - Rashelle Musci
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jonathan Posner
- Department of Psychiatry, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center and New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rebecca Schmidt
- Department of Public Health Sciences, UC Davis School of Medicine, Davis, CA, USA
| | | | - Irene Tung
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Daniel Weisenberger
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Yeyi Zhu
- Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California and Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, Oakland, CA, USA
| | - Rebecca Fry
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, UNC Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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17
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Rimawi I, Ornoy A, Yanai J. Paternal and/or maternal preconception-induced neurobehavioral teratogenicity in animal and human models. Brain Res Bull 2021; 174:103-121. [PMID: 34087361 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2021.05.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Prenatal insult exposure effects on the offspring, have and are still considered the main interest of most teratological studies, while paternal and maternal preconception effects have received relatively little interest. Once thought to be a myth, paternal exposure to insults leading to numerous detrimental effects in the offspring, has been confirmed on several occasions and is gaining increased attention. These effects could be demonstrated molecularly, biochemically and/or behaviorally. Different epigenetic mechanisms have been proposed for these effects to occur, including DNA methylation, histone modification and sperm RNA transmission. Paternal insult exposure has been shown to cause several neurobehavioral and developmental defects in the offspring. Findings on parental insult exposure effects on the progeny will be discussed in this review, with the main focus being on neurobehavioral effects after parental preconceptional exposure. The exposure to the insults induced long-lasting, mostly marked, defects. A few pioneering, prevention and reversal studies were published. Interestingly, most studies were conducted on paternal exposure and, at the present state of this field, on animal models. Clinical translation remains the subsequent challenge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Issam Rimawi
- The Ross Laboratory for Studies in Neural Birth Defects, Department of Medical Neurobiology, Institute for Medical Research - Israel-Canada and The Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Box 12272, 91120, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Asher Ornoy
- Adelson School of Medicine, Ariel University, Israel; Laboratory of Teratology, department of Medical Neurobiology, Institute for Medical Research - Israel-Canada and The Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Box 12272, 91120 Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Joseph Yanai
- The Ross Laboratory for Studies in Neural Birth Defects, Department of Medical Neurobiology, Institute for Medical Research - Israel-Canada and The Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Box 12272, 91120, Jerusalem, Israel; Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, 27710, USA.
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18
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Bara A, Ferland JMN, Rompala G, Szutorisz H, Hurd YL. Cannabis and synaptic reprogramming of the developing brain. Nat Rev Neurosci 2021; 22:423-438. [PMID: 34021274 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-021-00465-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Recent years have been transformational in regard to the perception of the health risks and benefits of cannabis with increased acceptance of use. This has unintended neurodevelopmental implications given the increased use of cannabis and the potent levels of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol today being consumed by pregnant women, young mothers and teens. In this Review, we provide an overview of the neurobiological effects of cannabinoid exposure during prenatal/perinatal and adolescent periods, in which the endogenous cannabinoid system plays a fundamental role in neurodevelopmental processes. We highlight impaired synaptic plasticity as characteristic of developmental exposure and the important contribution of epigenetic reprogramming that maintains the long-term impact into adulthood and across generations. Such epigenetic influence by its very nature being highly responsive to the environment also provides the potential to diminish neural perturbations associated with developmental cannabis exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anissa Bara
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Mount Sinai, NY, USA.,Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Mount Sinai, NY, USA.,Addiction Institute of Mount Sinai, Mount Sinai, NY, USA.,Friedman Brain Institute, Mount Sinai, NY, USA
| | - Jacqueline-Marie N Ferland
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Mount Sinai, NY, USA.,Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Mount Sinai, NY, USA.,Addiction Institute of Mount Sinai, Mount Sinai, NY, USA.,Friedman Brain Institute, Mount Sinai, NY, USA
| | - Gregory Rompala
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Mount Sinai, NY, USA.,Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Mount Sinai, NY, USA.,Addiction Institute of Mount Sinai, Mount Sinai, NY, USA.,Friedman Brain Institute, Mount Sinai, NY, USA
| | - Henrietta Szutorisz
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Mount Sinai, NY, USA.,Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Mount Sinai, NY, USA.,Addiction Institute of Mount Sinai, Mount Sinai, NY, USA.,Friedman Brain Institute, Mount Sinai, NY, USA
| | - Yasmin L Hurd
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Mount Sinai, NY, USA. .,Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Mount Sinai, NY, USA. .,Addiction Institute of Mount Sinai, Mount Sinai, NY, USA. .,Friedman Brain Institute, Mount Sinai, NY, USA.
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19
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Schrott R, Murphy SK, Modliszewski JL, King DE, Hill B, Itchon-Ramos N, Raburn D, Price T, Levin ED, Vandrey R, Corcoran DL, Kollins SH, Mitchell JT. Refraining from use diminishes cannabis-associated epigenetic changes in human sperm. ENVIRONMENTAL EPIGENETICS 2021; 7:dvab009. [PMID: 34557312 PMCID: PMC8455898 DOI: 10.1093/eep/dvab009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Revised: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Cannabis use alters sperm DNA methylation, but the potential reversibility of these changes is unknown. Semen samples from cannabis users and non-user controls were collected at baseline and again following a 77-day period of cannabis abstinence (one spermatogenic cycle). Users and controls did not significantly differ by demographics or semen analyses. Whole-genome bisulfite sequencing identified 163 CpG sites with significantly different DNA methylation in sperm between groups (P < 2.94 × 10-9). Genes associated with altered CpG sites were enriched with those involved in development, including cardiogenesis and neurodevelopment. Many of the differences in sperm DNA methylation between groups were diminished after cannabis abstinence. These results indicate that sustained cannabis abstinence significantly reduces the number of sperm showing cannabis-associated alterations at genes important for early development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rose Schrott
- Duke University Program in Environmental Health, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, 9 Circuit Drive, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Susan K Murphy
- *Correspondence address. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Sciences, The Chesterfield Building, 701 W. Main Street, Suite 510 Durham, NC 27701, USA Tel: +(919) 681-3423; E-mail:
| | - Jennifer L Modliszewski
- Duke Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University Medical Center, 101 Science Drive, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Dillon E King
- Duke University Program in Environmental Health, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, 9 Circuit Drive, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Bendu Hill
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, 2608 Erwin Road, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Nilda Itchon-Ramos
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, 2608 Erwin Road, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Douglas Raburn
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Duke University Medical Center, 5704 Fayetteville Road, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Thomas Price
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Duke University Medical Center, 5704 Fayetteville Road, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Edward D Levin
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, 2608 Erwin Road, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Ryan Vandrey
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 5510 Nathan Shock Drive, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - David L Corcoran
- Duke Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University Medical Center, 101 Science Drive, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Scott H Kollins
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, 2608 Erwin Road, Durham, NC, USA
| | - John T Mitchell
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, 2608 Erwin Road, Durham, NC, USA
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20
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Holloway ZR, Hawkey AB, Torres AK, Evans J, Pippen E, White H, Katragadda V, Kenou B, Wells C, Murphy SK, Rezvani AH, Levin ED. Paternal cannabis extract exposure in rats: Preconception timing effects on neurodevelopmental behavior in offspring. Neurotoxicology 2020; 81:180-188. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2020.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2020] [Revised: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
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21
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Grant KS, Conover E, Chambers CD. Update on the developmental consequences of cannabis use during pregnancy and lactation. Birth Defects Res 2020; 112:1126-1138. [PMID: 32770666 DOI: 10.1002/bdr2.1766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2020] [Revised: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 06/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
There is a strong increase in prevalence trends for cannabis use during pregnancy and lactation as more states legalize use of this drug. Information on the teratogenic risk of cannabis is limited but some important themes can be gleaned. Studies have not found a unique phenotypic signature of prenatal exposure but an increased risk of congenital anomalies, particularly gastroschisis, has been reported. Changes in fetal growth have been described in some epidemiological studies but long-term patterns of physical growth appear unaffected. Prenatal exposure to cannabis is not generally associated with reductions in global IQ but specific cognitive skills, especially attention and memory, can be negatively impacted. Long-term impacts on psychological health include increased rates of depressive symptoms and anxiety as well as delinquency. Relatively little is known about the risk of maternal cannabis use during lactation but data suggest that infant exposure is relatively low compared to maternal exposure. As delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) levels increase to meet consumer demand and routes of exposure diversify, there is a strong need for prospective birth-cohort studies that collect biological samples to quantify exposure. Data from such studies will be critical to overcoming the weaknesses of past cannabis research and are essential to establishing reliable information on the risks of maternal use. Until that time, health care providers should be encouraged to talk about the risks and benefits associated with cannabis use during pregnancy and lactation with their patients, emphasizing that fetal and neonatal risks cannot be excluded at this time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly S Grant
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.,Washington National Primate Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Elizabeth Conover
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Munroe-Meyer Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Christina D Chambers
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
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22
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Nashed MG, Hardy DB, Laviolette SR. Prenatal Cannabinoid Exposure: Emerging Evidence of Physiological and Neuropsychiatric Abnormalities. Front Psychiatry 2020; 11:624275. [PMID: 33519564 PMCID: PMC7841012 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.624275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Clinical reports of cannabis use prevalence during pregnancy vary widely from 3% to upwards of 35% in North America; this disparity likely owing to underestimates from self-reporting in many cases. The rise in cannabis use is mirrored by increasing global legalization and the overall perceptions of safety, even during pregnancy. These trends are further compounded by a lack of evidence-based policy and guidelines for prenatal cannabis use, which has led to inconsistent messaging by healthcare providers and medically licensed cannabis dispensaries regarding prenatal cannabis use for treatment of symptoms, such as nausea. Additionally, the use of cannabis to self-medicate depression and anxiety during pregnancy is a growing medical concern. This review aims to summarize recent findings of clinical and preclinical data on neonatal outcomes, as well as long-term physiological and neurodevelopmental outcomes of prenatal cannabis exposure. Although many of the outcomes under investigation have produced mixed results, we consider these data in light of the unique challenges facing cannabis research. In particular, the limited longitudinal clinical studies available have not previously accounted for the exponential increase in (-)-Δ9- tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC; the psychoactive compound in cannabis) concentrations found in cannabis over the past two decades. Polydrug use and the long-term effects of individual cannabis constituents [Δ9-THC vs. cannabidiol (CBD)] are also understudied, along with sex-dependent outcomes. Despite these limitations, prenatal cannabis exposure has been linked to low birth weight, and emerging evidence suggests that prenatal exposure to Δ9-THC, which crosses the placenta and impacts placental development, may have wide-ranging physiological and neurodevelopmental consequences. The long-term effects of these changes require more rigorous investigation, though early reports suggest Δ9-THC increases the risk of cognitive impairment and neuropsychiatric disease, including psychosis, depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders. In light of the current trends in the perception and use of cannabis during pregnancy, we emphasize the social and medical imperative for more rigorous investigation of the long-term effects of prenatal cannabis exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mina G Nashed
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Daniel B Hardy
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.,Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Steven R Laviolette
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
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