title: From Fertilisation to Implantation in Mammalian Pregnancy-Modulation of Early Human Reproduction by the Endocannabinoid System.
abstract: There is an increasing recognition that the endocannabinoid system is the crucial cytokine-hormone system regulating early human pregnancy. The synchronous development of the fertilized embryo and the endometrium to ensure timely implantation has been shown to be one of the pivotal steps to successful implantation. This development is thought to be regulated by a finely balanced relationship between various components of the endocannabinoid system in the endometrium, the embryo and the Fallopian tube. In addition, this system has also been shown to be involved in the regulation of the development and maturation of the gametes prior to fertilization. In this review, we will examine the evidence from animal and human studies to support the role of the endocannabinoid system in gametogenesis, fertilization, implantation, early pregnancy maintenance, and in immunomodulation of pregnancy. We will discuss the role of the cannabinoid receptors and the enzymes involved in the synthesis and degradation of the key endocannabinoid ligands (e.g., anandamide and 2-arachinoylglycerol) in early reproduction.
authors.affiliation: Endocannabinoid Research Group, Reproductive Sciences Section, Department of Cancer Studies and Molecular Medicine, Robert Kilpatrick Clinical Sciences Building, Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester LE2 7LX, UK. kb217@le.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Katerina N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Bambang
authors.affiliation: Endocannabinoid Research Group, Reproductive Sciences Section, Department of Cancer Studies and Molecular Medicine, Robert Kilpatrick Clinical Sciences Building, Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester LE2 7LX, UK. tk113@le.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Tulay
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Karasu
authors.affiliation: Endocannabinoid Research Group, Reproductive Sciences Section, Department of Cancer Studies and Molecular Medicine, Robert Kilpatrick Clinical Sciences Building, Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester LE2 7LX, UK. ag271@le.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Alpha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gebeh
authors.affiliation: Endocannabinoid Research Group, Reproductive Sciences Section, Department of Cancer Studies and Molecular Medicine, Robert Kilpatrick Clinical Sciences Building, Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester LE2 7LX, UK. aht3@le.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Anthony H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.affiliation: Endocannabinoid Research Group, Reproductive Sciences Section, Department of Cancer Studies and Molecular Medicine, Robert Kilpatrick Clinical Sciences Building, Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester LE2 7LX, UK. thm3@le.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Timothy H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Marczylo
authors.affiliation: Endocannabinoid Research Group, Reproductive Sciences Section, Department of Cancer Studies and Molecular Medicine, Robert Kilpatrick Clinical Sciences Building, Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester LE2 7LX, UK. pmwl1@le.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.affiliation: Endocannabinoid Research Group, Reproductive Sciences Section, Department of Cancer Studies and Molecular Medicine, Robert Kilpatrick Clinical Sciences Building, Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester LE2 7LX, UK. jmw23@le.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Jonathon M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Willets
authors.affiliation: Endocannabinoid Research Group, Reproductive Sciences Section, Department of Cancer Studies and Molecular Medicine, Robert Kilpatrick Clinical Sciences Building, Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester LE2 7LX, UK. jck4@le.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Justin C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Konje
keywords: endocannabinoid; fertilization; implantation; reproduction