cannabisnews.com: Marijuana May Hurt Couples' Conception Odds Marijuana May Hurt Couples' Conception Odds Posted by FoM on December 13, 2000 at 05:11:56 PT By Ulysses Torassa, Chronicle Medical Writer Source: San Francisco Chronicle In a finding that could send shivers down the spines of pot-smoking couples hoping to conceive, new research is raising the possibility that marijuana could interfere with reproduction. New studies show that a cannabis-like compound inhibits the ability of human sperm to fertilize an egg. Also, high concentrations of THC -- the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana -- appear to cause structural changes in sperm as they become ready and able to reach and fuse with a woman's egg. While pot smoking may not yet qualify as a contraceptive, the findings presented yesterday at the American Society for Cell Biology meeting at Moscone Center in San Francisco are some of the first indications that marijuana use could reduce fertility in both men and women. Previous research has shown a link between heavy pot smoking and low sperm counts. The latest study focuses on a substance called anandamide that is produced by the body and which acts very much like THC on a cellular level. It is one of a class of substances called cannabinoids that bind to receptors on cells that also respond to THC. Cannabinoids are found throughout the body and their affect on various systems is only now being studied. In a series of experiments, researchers at the University of Buffalo-SUNY found that a synthetic form of anandamide reduced by half the number of sperm that were able to attach to a human egg. Furthermore, high concentrations of anandamide slowed down sperm's swimming ability, while low levels kicked it into overdrive. The researchers also bathed human sperm in solutions containing either THC or anandamide and found that both substances significantly altered the normal structural changes sperm go through as they prepare to approach and bind with an egg. Frequent Use May Cause Trouble:"For people who are very heavy marijuana users, there may be reproductive consequences associated with that," said Herbert Schuel, a professor of anatomy and cell biology at the University of Buffalo and lead author of the study. More generally, Schuel said, it is possible that glitches in the normal anandamide system could be linked to some cases of unexplained infertility. Gregory Kopf, a professor in the obstetrics and gynecology department at the University of Pennsylvania, said he was intrigued by the findings, but added that he was not sure that the concentrations of anandamide used in the experiments would ever be reached in the reproductive tracts of people who smoke pot. Kopf's research focuses on the signals between cells that occur when an egg is fertilized and begins to divide into an embryo. Although there have been anecdotal reports of marijuana's adverse effect on fetal development and fertility, there have been virtually no formal studies to show whether or not a link exists, said S.K. Dey of the University of Kansas Medical Center. A Compound's Complex Effects:Dey has shown that, in mice, excessive amounts of anandamide or an unusually large number of receptors for it on an embryo increases the risk that the fetus will miscarry. Furthermore, he said, in a normal mouse pregnancy, the number of the receptors and the level of anandamide both go down just before the embryo is implanted. Dey has followed Schuel's research and said he is one of the few scientists focusing on cannabinoids and their effects on the human body outside of the brain. "People have gotten so focused on the brain function (of anandamide and related compounds) and very little focus has been on its effect on early pregnancy," he said. Schuel said the federal government's restrictive stance on marijuana- related research has hindered the field. But he said it is attracting more interest as scientists learn more about how cannabinoids affect everything from circulation to digestion to cancer.Note: Studies find fertilization inhibited by compound that resembles cannabis.E-mail Ulysses Torassa at: utorassa sfchronicle.comSource: San Francisco Chronicle (CA)Author: Ulysses Torassa, Chronicle Medical WriterPublished: Wednesday, December 13, 2000 Copyright: 2000 San Francisco ChronicleContact: chronletters sfgate.com Website: http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/Forum: http://www.sfgate.com/conferences/Related Article: Marijuana Firmly Linked to Infertility http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread7980.shtmlCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml END SNIP --> Snipped Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #6 posted by Robbie on December 13, 2000 at 12:28:18 PT: Letter I wrote in response to this article: "Let the Reader Beware"To the Editor,I am writing regarding your article "Marijuana May Hurt Couples' Conception Odds," published on December 13th. While the study that this article cites (from Scientific American) may contain some validity, it is highly dubious that these "facts" should only surface now.One of the major detractions from general public acceptance of marijuana has been the claim on the part of cannabis prohibition supporters that "not enough research has been done" to make a claim one way or another. Until then, one would extrapolate, all the evidence from the pro-marijuana side must be "anecdotal" evidence.Yet, newspapers and media organizations jump at the opportunity to further support the prohibitionist cause by citing any "study" that agrees with the status-quo establishment side of the issue. A notable inclusion would be the recent story that claimed marijuana was addictive because a "study" was done where monkeys intentionally pushed a lever that injected them with THC, the active cannabis ingredient.The story that scores of newspapers and other media outlets jumped on, forgot to mention that the same monkeys used in that study were earlier "trained" to push those levers because they delivered cocaine. Do the math...you're dumb, you push a lever, you get cocaine... Later, after they've weaned you from cocaine, you're put back in the same environment. You're memory serves to remind you that pushing that lever gave you a serious rush. You would push the lever again and again, whether it was actually cocaine or contained something else. The irony in the current situation is the absurdity of the claim. Perhaps one in one thousand people could become sterile or infertile for using marijuana. People need to be reminded that there are thousands of "safe," "legal," prescribed drugs that have a greater statistical risk of sterility or infertility. I have heard from many people who have smoked pot all of their lives and they still have many healthy happy children, obviously done through no negative effect from cannabis consumption.Why I take exception to your readiness to report all of these pro-prohibitionist tidbits is the fact that you (including most media) seem unable or unwilling to report the other side of the issue. Early this year, a study was done in Spain where THC extracts were injected into the brains of mice with tumors, and a "non-anecdotal" result followed, that showed a reduction in the size of the tumors! A naturally grown plant with the power to fight back cancerous tumors! That should have been page 1 for a week! Yet I never would have even heard about it, was it not for the fact that I study cannabis issues. That's one that the mainstream media missed.Partially from information I gathered in this story [http://www.newmassmedia.com/nac.phtml?code=fai&db=nac_fea&ref=13698] it turns out that a study was commissioned under President Ford in 1974 to further demonize marijuana. The article says, "researchers at the Medical College of Virginia had been funded by the National Institutes of Health to find evidence that marijuana damages the immune system. Instead, they found that THC slowed the growth of three kinds of cancer in mice--lung and breast cancer and a virus-induced leukemia" (aside, remember the study done by the UCSF researcher, also this year, that showed no effect on immuno-suppression by cannabis.)The article goes on to suggest that it was a policy of the US government to suppress all federally sponsored studies on marijuana, ostensibly, because the government was not getting the answer it wanted.A further support of my premise is the fact of existence of three federally commissioned and funded studies on cannabis that seem to get no play in the press and are those studies you want to label as "anecdotal." They are the Schaefer Commission Report of 1972, a study done in the late 1980's by the DEA where a DEA law counsel was the chairman, and 1998's Institute of Medicine study into medical marijuana. All three ended in agreement that marijuana, used medicinally or recreationally, is much less dangerous than, not only other illegal drugs, but most legal over-the-counter medication as well. While I agree that newspapers and other media should be unbiased when it comes to reporting the news, they do not seem to practice this fundamental tenet when it comes to reporting on drug issues, most especially marijuana. Just say KNOW [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by Maleksalem on December 13, 2000 at 10:49:43 PT: Cannabis & infertility I and my wife have consumed, on average, approximately one ounce of cannabis per week for 30 years. I am father to 15 healthy children and nine grandchildren. We have no history of miscarriages. Our children have never arrived missing parts, retarded or aflicted in any manner. All of our children have been healthy home deliveries. 'nuf said!! [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by Stripey on December 13, 2000 at 09:51:04 PT Well . . . Regardless of the possible results on fertility, it does seem to be a temporary condition, at least in the way it was presented in this article. . . so, if you think it's a problem, and wanna have a kid, lay off the pot for a year, you and the wife take a break until the kid's born, then raise the rugrat in a responsible manner, being sure to instruct them that they need to make their own informed choices, not to let the government tell them what's good for them . . . =) [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by JR Bob Dobbs on December 13, 2000 at 09:47:07 PT Debunking what comes out of the bunker For an intelligent look at this "study" and the "latest evidence" I suggest watching the end of Tuesday's 4:20 Marijuana News at www.pot-tv.net... And ask yourself, which drug is often responsible for unwanted pregnancy? It's not pot... it's something legal! http://www.pot-tv.net/ [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by ripper on December 13, 2000 at 06:43:42 PT Total BS This is pure BS. I have smoked heavy since 16 and I have 4 kids. I'm 34 now and my kids are 15, 13, 6, and 2. I smoke every day and have no problems making babys. My kids are smart and healthy. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Ethan Russo, MD on December 13, 2000 at 06:39:08 PT: Guilt by Association "a synthetic form of anandamide reduced by half the number of sperm that were able to attach to a human egg"To say that cannabis does this and poses problems for humans is the same as saying the guy that robbed me resembled a human being. This is not proof. Results presented at a meeting are one thing. Once something appears in a journal it is fair game for letters of criticism, which would be abundant if such claims were advanced as scientific fact. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: