• THC use during pregnancy linked to chang

    From ScienceDaily@1:317/3 to All on Thu Jul 6 22:30:32 2023
    THC use during pregnancy linked to changes in fetal development

    Date:
    July 6, 2023
    Source:
    Oregon Health & Science University
    Summary:
    Researchers showed that consuming THC while pregnant could
    potentially affect development of the fetus and lead to life-long
    health impacts for offspring.


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    ==========================================================================
    FULL STORY ========================================================================== Oregon Health & Science University researchers showed that consuming
    THC while pregnant could potentially affect development of the fetus
    and lead to life- long health impacts for offspring.

    The preclinical study was published today in the journal Clinical
    Epigenetics.

    Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, is the main psychoactive ingredient
    in cannabis, a substance growing in popularity and availability in
    the United States. The prevalence of cannabis use in pregnancy is also
    rapidly increasing, especially during the first trimester -- a time when
    the fetus is most vulnerable to environmental exposures -- to mitigate
    common symptoms like morning sickness. However, the potential effects
    of prenatal cannabis use on fetal development remain inconclusive,
    in part due to a lack of safety data.

    This study aimed to identify the potential long-term health impacts of
    THC use during pregnancy.

    In a non-human primate model, OHSU researchers found that exposing
    a pregnant subject to THC altered the placental and fetal epigenome
    -- including the chemical modifications to DNA responsible for gene
    regulation and expression, that is telling genes what, where and when
    to do something. Researchers also found that that these changes to gene regulation and expression are consistent with those seen with many common neurobehavioral conditions, including autism spectrum disorder.

    "Cannabis is one of the most commonly used drugs and is widely available
    across the country, so there is a common perception that its completely
    safe to use," said the study's lead author Lyndsey Shorey-Kendrick,
    Ph.D., a computational biologist in the Division of Neurosciences at
    OHSU's Oregon National Primate Research Center, or ONPRC. "The reality
    is that cannabis still carries many health risks for certain populations, including those who are pregnant. If we're able to better understand the impacts, we can more effectively communicate the risks to patients and
    support safer habits during the vulnerable prenatal period." In a model
    using nonhuman primates, researchers administered THC in a daily edible
    and compared its effects to a group receiving a placebo. Specifically, researchers evaluated the epigenetic changes in several key areas that
    indicate healthy prenatal development: the placenta -- the disc of
    tissue that connects the umbilical cord and uterus -- and fetal lung,
    brain and heart.

    When looking at these areas, analyses showed that THC exposure altered
    the epigenome, meaning a process in which the information encoded in
    a gene is turned into a function or observable trait. Genes -- the
    segments which make up DNA -- are all specifically coded to contribute
    to different functions of the body and brain, so any impact on epigenetic processes due to drug exposure is concerning, especially during a critical developmental window such as pregnancy.

    Researchers found that significant changes involved genes associated with common neurobehavioral disorders, including autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. These conditions are linked
    to adverse health outcomes in childhood and adolescence, including
    poorer memory and verbal reasoning skills, and increased hyperactivity, impulsivity and inattention.

    The research team, which includes Eliot Spindel, M.D., Ph.D., Elinor
    Sullivan, Ph.D., Owen McCarty, Ph.D., and Jason Hedges, M.D., Ph.D., hopes findings from this study will add to the limited existing literature on
    THC use during pregnancy, and help guide patient counseling and public
    health polices focused on cannabis in the future.

    "It's not common practice for providers to discuss cannabis use with
    patients who are pregnant or trying to conceive," said the study's corresponding author, Jamie Lo, M.D., M.C.R., associate professor of
    obstetrics and gynecology (maternal-fetal medicine), OHSU School of
    Medicine, and Division of Reproductive and Developmental Sciences at
    the ONPRC. "I hope our work can help open up a broader dialogue about
    the risks of cannabis use in the preconception and prenatal period,
    so we can improve children's health in the long run."
    * RELATED_TOPICS
    o Health_&_Medicine
    # Pregnancy_and_Childbirth # Controlled_Substances #
    Birth_Defects
    o Mind_&_Brain
    # Marijuana # Illegal_Drugs # Learning_Disorders
    o Plants_&_Animals
    # Epigenetics_Research # Developmental_Biology # Mice
    * RELATED_TERMS
    o Environmental_impact_assessment o Nutrition o Amniotic_sac o
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    ========================================================================== Journal Reference:
    1. Lyndsey E. Shorey-Kendrick, Victoria H. J. Roberts, Rahul
    J. D'Mello,
    Elinor L. Sullivan, Susan K. Murphy, Owen J. T. Mccarty,
    Danny J. Schust, Jason C. Hedges, A. J. Mitchell, Jose Juanito
    D. Terrobias, Charles A.

    Easley, Eliot R. Spindel, Jamie O. Lo. Prenatal delta-9-
    tetrahydrocannabinol exposure is associated with changes in
    rhesus macaque DNA methylation enriched for autism genes. Clinical
    Epigenetics, 2023; 15 (1) DOI: 10.1186/s13148-023-01519-4 ==========================================================================

    Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/07/230706160116.htm

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