Effect of cannabinoids on spermatogenesis in vivo: a cytological study

The cytogenetic effects of delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabinol (CBN) (10 mg/kg) were investigated in hybrid mice of genotype (C57BL x C3H)F1. Mice were treated for 5 consecutive days with the specific cannabinoid; 16 days after the last treatment the meiotic cells were evaluated. Analysis of the spermatocyte bivalents at the first meiotic metaphase failed to reveal any numerical or structural abnormality. Contrary to previous reports we failed to find any major meiotic abnormalities associated with THC and CBN treatments. There was no evidence of ring or chain figures. The centromeric banding procedure (C banding) was used to support observations of Giemsa stained cells. It has previously been reported that cannabinoids suppress the incorporation of 3H-uridine into pachytene spermatocytes and round spermatids; the absence of chromosome aberrations in the present study suggests that an adverse effect appears to be present, but may be at a level other than cytogenetic.