Interplay Between Endocannabinoids, Steroids and Cytokines in the Control of Human Reproduction

The use of marijuana, which today is the most used recreational drug, has been demonstrated to affect adversely reproduction. Marijuana smokers, both men and women, show impaired fertility, owing to defective signalling pathways, aberrant hormonal regulation, or wrong timing during embryo implantati...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of neuroendocrinology 2008-05, Vol.20 (s1), p.82-89
Main Authors: Battista, N., Pasquariello, N., Di Tommaso, M., Maccarrone, M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators - metabolism
Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators - physiology
Cannabinoids - pharmacology
Cannabis sativa
cytokines
Cytokines - physiology
Endocannabinoids
FAAH
Female
Fertility - drug effects
Fertility - physiology
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Gonadal Steroid Hormones - pharmacology
Gonadal Steroid Hormones - physiology
Gonads - metabolism
Humans
Male
Models, Biological
Receptors, Cannabinoid - metabolism
Reproduction - drug effects
Reproduction - physiology
sex hormones
Steroids - physiology
Vertebrates: endocrinology
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Summary:The use of marijuana, which today is the most used recreational drug, has been demonstrated to affect adversely reproduction. Marijuana smokers, both men and women, show impaired fertility, owing to defective signalling pathways, aberrant hormonal regulation, or wrong timing during embryo implantation. Anandamide (N‐arachidonoylethanolamine, AEA) and 2‐arachidonoylglycerol (2‐AG) mimic Δ9‐tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive principle of Cannabis sativa, by binding to both the brain‐type (CB1) and the spleen‐type (CB2) cannabinoid receptors. These ‘endocannabinoids’ exert several actions either in the central nervous system or in peripheral tissues, and are metabolised by specific enzymes that synthesise or hydrolyse them. In this review, we shall describe the elements that constitute the endocannabinod system (ECS), in order to put in a better perspective the role of this system in the control of human fertility, both in females and males. In addition, we shall discuss the interplay between ECS, sex hormones and cytokines, which generates an endocannabinoid−hormone−cytokine array critically involved in the control of human reproduction.
ISSN:0953-8194
1365-2826
DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2826.2008.01684.x