The findings of a new study show a relationship between cannabis use and a certain sperm gene that is associated with autism. The lead author of the study focused on male sperm from people who ingested marijuana. The genetic changes were due to the methylation of a particular gene called DLGAP2. Since marijuana is known to affect many aspects of development, it’s important to study marijuana’s effect on sperm.
The findings also suggest that exposure to cannabis can affect the development of a child’s brain. The brain is the organ that the father passes on to his offspring. During the brain’s development, the sperm undergoes epigenetic changes that turn off certain genes. In the study, researchers found that THC caused decreased communication between brain cells, a phenomenon similar to that seen in Alzheimer’s disease. The researchers also observed deficits in learning, memory, and attention in the rats.
The study also noted that there are many uncertainties surrounding the effects of marijuana on sperm. The small size of the study’s samples makes it difficult to draw definitive conclusions about how marijuana affects the genes. It hemp seeds cbd also does not control other factors that may impact the sperm. Men who are planning to conceive should avoid marijuana use six months before conception to be safe for their children. However, even the findings are preliminary.
The researchers evaluated the marijuana and tobacco use histories of 409 male patients presenting for infertility evaluation. They found that marijuana use was associated with lower sperm motility and semen quality than ever-users. Despite the positive findings, the researchers noted that more research is needed to determine whether marijuana use is detrimental to sperm motility or sperm quality. So, it’s important to consider the effects of marijuana use and infertility in this growing at-risk population.
The researchers attributed the results to a lack of data regarding the cause of the changes in sperm DNA methylation. However, they noted that cannabis has a unique effect on sperm. The changes in sperm were not consistent across species and are likely to be specific to cannabis use. The researchers concluded that exposure to marijuana during the teenage years could influence sperm DNA methylation and sperm motility.
The findings suggest that the changes in sperm gene expression can be reversed if men cease using marijuana. The researchers did note that cannabis abstinence may wash out the effects of cannabis, but these results require more research to confirm. If this is true, it could have immediate practical implications. The study is only one of many marijuana-related effects. It will be interesting to see if the effects are consistent across the population and whether they will carry through.
These findings are based on a small sample of men. The study sample enrolled 24 participants, half of whom used marijuana and half of them were non-users. Because the researchers couldn’t account for other variables, they were unable to find any statistically significant association between marijuana use and autism in sperm. The study was funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS).
Researchers from Charles River Laboratories studied 1,143 semen samples collected from 662 men between 2000 and 2017. The participants were college educated and averaged 36 years old. Another 317 men provided blood samples for reproductive experienced hormone analysis. Researchers also collected information about marijuana use through self-report questionnaires. They asked participants if they’d ever smoked more than two joints and whether they were current marijuana smokers.
Researchers from the University of Montreal looked into the brains of 4,000 adolescents. They found that occasional marijuana users increased their risk of developing psychosis by as much as 159 percent. Furthermore, frequent marijuana users also exhibited less ability to resist socially unacceptable behaviors. The study authors hope to continue their research in this area. But for now, it’s unclear how much marijuana will have an impact on the reproductive system.