ArticleBMC molecular and cell biology2023
Sperm capacitation and transcripts levels are altered by in vitro THC exposure.
Article in BMC molecular and cell biology, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers.
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Who cites it
10 citing papers in PubMed, 24 citations in OpenAlex.
- Environmental and external stressors of postejaculatory sperm function.The Journal of reproduction and development · 2026Review
- Tributyltin chloride alters the structural, genomic, and epigenomic integrity of postejaculatory mammalian sperm.Epigenetics · 2025Article
- The impact of cannabinoids on reproductive function.Reproduction (Cambridge, England) · 2025Review
- Liver Transcriptomic Profiles of Ruminant Species Fed Spent Hemp Biomass Containing Cannabinoids.Genes · 2024Article
- DNA methylation, but not microRNA expression, is affected by in vitro THC exposure in bovine granulosa cells.BMC pharmacology & toxicology · 2024Article
- Behind the Genetics: The Role of Epigenetics in Infertility-Related Testicular Dysfunction.Life (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Review
- Article
- THC and sperm: Impact on fertilization capability, pre-implantation in vitro development and epigenetic modifications.PloS one · 2024Article
- In vitro evaluation of cell viability and expression profile of growth factors in mouse Sertoli cells exposed to Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol: a mechanistic insight into the cannabinoid-induced testicular toxicity.BMC pharmacology & toxicology · 2023Article
- Quality of fresh and cryopreserved bovine sperm is reduced by BPA and BPF exposure.Reproduction & fertility · 2023Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundDelta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the primary phytocannabinoid responsible for the psychoactive properties of cannabis and is known to interact with the endocannabinoid system, which is functionally present in the male reproductive system. Since cannabis consumption is the highest among reproductive aged males, the current study aimed to further investigate the effects of THC exposure to phenotypical, physiological, and molecular parameters in sperm. Bull sperm of known fertility were used as a translational model for human sperm and subjected to in vitro treatment with physiologically relevant experimental doses of THC. Sperm parameters, capacitation, apoptosis, and transcript levels were evaluated following treatment.
resultsMotility, morphology, and viability of bovine sperm was unaltered from THC exposure. However, 0.32µM of THC caused an increased proportion of capacitating sperm (p < 0.05) compared to control and vehicle group sperm. Transcriptome analysis revealed that 39 genes were found to be differentially expressed by 0.032µM THC exposure, 196 genes were differentially expressed by 0.32µM THC exposure, and 33 genes were differentially expressed by 3.2µM THC. Secondary analysis reveals pathways involving development, nucleosomes, ribosomes and translation, and cellular metabolism to be significantly enriched.
conclusionPhytocannabinoid exposure to sperm may adversely affect sperm function by stimulating premature capacitation. These findings also show for the first time that spermatozoal transcripts may be altered by THC exposure. These results add to previous research demonstrating the molecular effects of cannabinoids on sperm and warrant further research into the effects of cannabis on male fertility.
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