Estimations of the number of women who use cannabis use during pregnancy ranges from 2-20%, depending on the socioeconomic demographic being studied. This has raised significant clinical concern because there is lack of understanding in how the main bioactive compounds in this plant, D9-tetrahydrocannibinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), impact human physiology beyond its effects on neurodevelopment and pain management. Many women chose to use cannabis during pregnancy to alleviate nausea and vomiting. Our lab is focused on understanding the role of THC and CBD in the placenta and mammary gland. These are the two main routes responsible for transmitting the effects of maternal cannabis use during pregnancy to the developing fetus. Our findings suggest the both THC and CBD impact trophoblast cells, the stem cell lineage that forms the maternal-fetal interface. We have also found that both compounds significantly affect mitochondrial structure and function in trophoblast cells. Furthermore, we have also determined that THC and CBD impact the differentiation of cultured mouse mammary epithelial cells and alter their production of milk proteins. The potential implications of these findings to fetal and postnatal growth will be discussed.
