Cannabinoids, Oxidative Stress and Female Reproduction: Where do we stand?

Cannabis sativum has long been used globally for hallucination. However, detrimental effects on female reproduction have never been studied. The aim of the present paper is to evaluate cannabinoid-induced oxidative stress and reproductive containment in female mice. Fifteen adult female Parkes strain mice were randomly chosen from institutional animal houses (n = 5/group) with ad libitum access to water and food. Animals were grouped into control (vehicle-treated), treated with 6 mg of cannabis/100 g of body weight, and 12 mg of cannabis/100 g of body weight. After 15 days all animals were sacrificed and tissues were collected for histology, immunohistochemistry, and estimations of different parameters. Histology and immunohistochemistry (of Cannabinoid Receptor 1; CB1) were performed following standardized protocols. All parameters were estimated either by standard biochemical protocols or by kit following the manufacturer’s protocol. Stress parameters (Super Oxide Dismutase; SOD, Catalase, CAT; Malonaldehyde, MDA and Glutathione Peroxidase; GPx), apoptotic parameters of thecal cells (by Caspase-3 assay), serum level of Estrogen (E2), steroidogenic parameters (3β Hydroxy-steroid dehydrogenase; 3β HSD and 17β Hydroxy-steroid dehydrogenase; 17β HSD) and expression of CB1 were noted in ovary. Data were analyzed by One-way Analysis of Variance (One-way ANOVA) followed by Duncan’s Multiple Range post hoc Test. We found a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in steroidogenic parameters and a significant increase (p < 0.05) in free radical and apoptotic parameters and CB1 receptor expressions upon dose-dependent cannabis treatment. We may conclude that chronic treatment of cannabis causes reproductive containment in females which has never been addressed previously.