Probably you have hear that cannabinoids & the endocannabinoid system play an important role in our daily lives regulating and maintaining homoeostasis in our bodies.
But did you know that actually their role is so crucial that they effect all the major stages of our lives from conception, embryo implantation, birth to the early days of our lives?
Male fertility...
Both CB1 and CB2 receptors are found on sperm cells. The level of endocannabinoid AEA is crucial for control of the percentage of swimming and live sperm (viability and motility), the modulation of the energy expenditure and control of the number of testosterone producing cells (Leydig cells).
These effects are mediated through the CB1 receptor. CB2 receptor activation is responsible for the start of the production of sperm and the regulation of its swimming speed.
Embryo implantation...
Virtually all steps of female reproductive events are affected by one or more elements of the endocannabinoid system (ECS). In fact cells and tissues of female reproductive organs are endowed with a fully functional ECS.
Both Anandamide and 2-AG have been found in the uterus and the fine tuning of their levels are essential for successful embryonic passage through the oviduct and implantation into the uterus. This is done via enzymatic degradation, by the enzymes FAAH and MAGL, of the two endocannabinoids (AEA and 2-AG) at crucial times in embryo development and implantation.
The role of these enzymes is crucial. As research has shown, they could even provide a great diagnostic tool, as lower levels of FAAH enzymes were found in women who miscarried than those who gave birth.
Foetal development...
The CB1 receptor has been found to play a pivotal role in the formation of the fetus’s brain. These receptors are responsible for the differentiation of neuronal progenitor cells into neurons or glia cells. They also act as tour guides for the connections between neuronal cells by showing them the right path to take and where to make connections to other cells.
Cannabis & Pregnancy..."Life is not possible devoid of cannabinoid receptors: depleting the gene encoding CB1 receptor sequence, prevents embryo development and survival to birth."
Research shows the importance of the endocannabinoid system as a finely tuned machine regulating important aspects in each phase of the reproductive cycle. One would assume that any interference by outside ECS modulators, such as phytocannabinoids, could have a detrimental effect during pregnancy. So the question arises: is cannabis consumption safe during pregnancy?
Women use cannabis during pregnancy for various reasons raging from health nausea, vomiting, increasing appetite, other chronic medical conditions or even for spiritual recreation and cannabnoids is often effectively used as a relief therapy from all those symptoms...
The studies...
-In a survey done in Canada, cannabis was rated as extremely effectiveby 92% of the respondents who had used it as a therapy for nausea and vomiting.While it has certainly proven to have a beneficial effect on the mothers, the concern remains on whether this affects the baby that the mother is carrying.
-The results of a well known study done in Jamaica by Dr. Dreher, compared mothers that used cannabis to mothers that did not use it during pregnancy and found that there were no positive or negative neuro-behavioral effects at 3 days of life, while there were significant differences between the exposed and non-exposed neonates at the end of the first month.
"The exposed babies showed better physiological stability, required less examiner facilitation to reach an organized state and become available for social stimulation".
It should be noted that a lot of the cannabis using mothers, besides smoking, also used cannabis tea.
-In a follow up study done on the same children at the age of 5 showed no significant differences in developmental testing outcomes between children of marijuana-using and non-using mothers.
-A later study on infant mortality rate showed even more interesting results.
They examined 2,964 infants and divided them into categories of those who had no drugs in their organism and those who tested positive (cocaine, opiates, cannabinoids). Those who were drug-negative had an average mortality rate of 15,7 deaths per 1000 live births but those who tested positive to cannabis,cocaine and/or opiates had a lower mortality rate of 8,9 deaths per 1000 live births...which meant a 0 mortality rate.
All these results shed a positive light on the use of cannabis during pregnancy. However, we definitely need more studies to reach a definite conclusion. Surely, cannabis consumption via smoking should better be avoided at all costs, as it clearly counteract the putative protective effects of cannabis itself.
Scientists theorize that maternal cannabis consumption, has significant, yet subtle effects on the offspring. This is due to the framework of the intricate timing requirements and frequently bi-phasic effects of the (endo)cannabinoids.
Breastfeeding and appetite stimulation...
Even after we leave the comfort of our mother’s womb, endocannabinoids are crucial for the survival of the newborn.
Endocannabinoids, oxylipins and other related compounds have been found in human milk. The endocannabinoid 2-AG has been found to be the most abundant and has an important role for the infants postnatal suckling behaviour and appetite stimulation.
Studies on mice have shown that 2-AG binding to CB1 receptors stimulate the initiation of milk suckling in mouse pups, stimulate appetite and might have a role in the correct innervation of the tongue muscles.
When researchers blocked the CB1 receptors, with a CB1 antagonist, the growth of the mouse pups stopped and caused death within one week. Scientists also experimented with the co-administration of delta-9-THC, which almost fully reversed the effects of the antagonist.
In summary, endocannabinoids have a crucial role in all the stages of reproduction. While they are a fine tuned machine, phytocannabinoids don’t seem to have a negative impact on this process, and might even prove more beneficial...
In the end it’s up to the mother to decide which is best for her and her baby...
Source & Links:https://naturegoingsmart.com
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