TY - JOUR
T1 - Regulation of male fertility by the endocannabinoid system
AU - Battista, Natalia
AU - Rapino, Cinzia
AU - Di Tommaso, Monia
AU - Bari, Monica
AU - Pasquariello, Nicoletta
AU - Maccarrone, Mauro
PY - 2008/4/16
Y1 - 2008/4/16
N2 - Mammalian conception is a complex process regulated by both sexual behavior and reproductive performance. Alcohol, marijuana and tobacco are among the main factors which affect negatively fertility in women and men. Several studies have demonstrated that marijuana impairs the male copulatory activity, and that smokers of this illegal drug show reduced fertility due, for instance, to decrease in sperm concentration, defective sperm function or alteration of sperm morphology. The discovery of endocannabinoids and all components responsible for their metabolism has allowed to collect valuable information on the effects of these endogenous lipids, able to mimic the actions of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), in reproductive functions. The purpose of this review is to describe the actions of cannabinoids and endocannabinoids on the control of procreation and hormonal release during the fertilization process in males.
AB - Mammalian conception is a complex process regulated by both sexual behavior and reproductive performance. Alcohol, marijuana and tobacco are among the main factors which affect negatively fertility in women and men. Several studies have demonstrated that marijuana impairs the male copulatory activity, and that smokers of this illegal drug show reduced fertility due, for instance, to decrease in sperm concentration, defective sperm function or alteration of sperm morphology. The discovery of endocannabinoids and all components responsible for their metabolism has allowed to collect valuable information on the effects of these endogenous lipids, able to mimic the actions of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), in reproductive functions. The purpose of this review is to describe the actions of cannabinoids and endocannabinoids on the control of procreation and hormonal release during the fertilization process in males.
KW - Endocannabinoids
KW - Fertility
KW - Hormones
KW - Sperm cells
KW - Testis
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U2 - 10.1016/j.mce.2008.01.010
DO - 10.1016/j.mce.2008.01.010
M3 - Article
C2 - 18328619
AN - SCOPUS:42249083399
VL - 286
JO - Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology
JF - Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology
SN - 0303-7207
IS - 1-2 SUPPL. 1
ER -