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Updated: Jun 21, 2026
05:13
Preclinical Model of Prenatal Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Exposure to Assess Its Impact on Neurodevelopmental Outcomes
Published on: February 28, 2025
The endocannabinoid system during development: emphasis on perinatal events and delayed effects
Ester Fride1, Nikolai Gobshtis, Hodaya Dahan
1Department of Behavioral Sciences and Molecular Biology, Ariel University Center of Samaria, Ariel, Israel.
Vitamins and Hormones
|August 4, 2009
Summary
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is crucial for embryonic development, brain formation, and infant suckling. Prenatal cannabinoid exposure disrupts these processes, impacting offspring neurodevelopment and stress coping abilities.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Endocrinology
Background:
- The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is present from early development.
- Endocannabinoids are found in maternal milk, highlighting their developmental importance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the essential roles of the ECS during embryonal, prenatal, and postnatal development.
- To explore the impact of perinatal cannabinoid exposure on offspring development and stress response.
Main Methods:
- Review of literature on ECS roles in embryogenesis, neurodevelopment, and suckling.
- Analysis of studies on perinatal cannabinoid exposure and its effects on neurotransmitter and behavioral functions.
Main Results:
- ECS regulates embryonic implantation, fetal brain development (neural progenitor differentiation, axonal guidance, synaptogenesis), and postnatal suckling initiation.
- Perinatal cannabinoid exposure alters offspring neurotransmitter and behavioral functions, mimicking effects of prenatal stress.
Conclusions:
- The ECS is vital for successful development and survival from conception through early life.
- Prenatal cannabinoid exposure can impair fetal development and the ability to cope with stress, suggesting potential therapeutic targets for conditions like infertility and addiction.
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