Sex differences in circulating endocannabinoid concentrations during adolescence: Associations with pubertal development
Endocannabinoids contribute to sex-related processes, including puberty. In 1,159 adolescents, females showed significantly lower concentrations than males across five endocannabinoids (AEA, 2-AG, PEA, OEA, and 2-OG). Sex-by-puberty interactions were significant for AEA, PEA, and OEA. Exploratory analyses revealed sex-specific associations between endocannabinoids and self-reported pain, stress, internalizing, and attentional problems.
Authors
- Chelsea M. Kaplan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9324-655X)
- Steven E. Harte (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2929-8694)
- Christel Madeleine Portengen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2437-1511)
- Julia M. Evanski (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2992-6889)
- Tristin Smith (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0338-5618)
- Esmeralda Hidalgo‐Lopez (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8521-8970)
- Adriene M. Beltz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5754-8083)
- Andrew Schrepf
Institutions
- University of Michigan (US)
- Michigan Medicine (US)
- Institute for Social Research (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Neuropsychopharmacology
- Published
- 2026-10-15
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41386-026-02574-0
- Primary Topic
- Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- National Institutes of Health
- National Institute of Mental Health
- National Institute on Drug Abuse
- National Institute of Nursing Research
- National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development