Effect of cannabinoids on estrous cycle, ovulation and reproductive capacity of female A/J mice.
Virgin A/J female mice were intubated daily for 8 days (short term) or 70 days (long term) with 0, 1, 5, or 25 mg/kg delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta 9-THC) or 0, 3, 15, or 75 mg/kg crude marihuana extract (CME) in a sesame oil:polysorbate 80:saline vehicle. These dosages approximate light, moderate, and heavy human usage. Short-term exposure to CME has no significant effect on PMS-HCG-induced ovulation but appears to: (1) delay entry into proestrus at all dose levels; (2) depress serum progesterone during the luteal phase at the highest CME level used (75 mg/kg), and (3) inhibit female receptivity to males at least at the highest dosage. Long-term oral administration of CME or delta 9-thc had no significant effect on length of estrous cycles or mating (plug formation) but term pregnancies were reduced by 32 and 68% for medium and high dosages, respectively. After a 30-day recovery period, 80% of those females that failed to have successful pregnancies now became pregnant.
D000818:Animals; D002186:Cannabinoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002188:Cannabis; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000494:pharmacology; D004971:Estrus / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D008805:Mice, Inbred A; D010060:Ovulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D011247:Pregnancy; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors
D002186:Cannabinoids; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013759:Dronabinol