Marijuana Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Marijuana, including details on benefits, cancer, effects, uses, addiction.

Endocannabinoid control of sperm motility: The role of epididymus.

Ricci G, Cacciola G, Altucci L, Meccariello R, Pierantoni R, Fasano S, Cobellis G

Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, Sez. "F. Bottazzi", Laboratorio di Istologia II Università di Napoli, 80138 Napoli, Italy.

Endocannabinoids are endogenous ligands for plasma membrane receptors (CB1 and CB2), belonging to the superfamily of G-protein-coupled receptors. They mimic some of the effects played by D9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active principle isolated from Cannabis sativa. N-arachidonoylethanolamine (anandamide, AEA) is the main endocannabinoid described to date in the testis and in human seminal plasma. However, the activity of AEA in controlling male reproduction is still poorly understood. In this study we report on physiological activity of endocannabinoids in the male reproductive tract. Using wild type (WT) and CB1 knock out mice (CB1KO) we show that endocannabinoids act in the epididymus. Here, through CB1, they inhibit sperm motility measured as the percentage of motile spermatozoa (SPZ). In particular, while in WT mice, as expected, the percentage of motile SPZ (measured in caput and cauda of epididymus) was significantly lower in the caput as compared with the cauda, in CB1KO mice a strong increase of motile SPZ in the caput was measured.

Published 1 August 2007 in Gen Comp Endocrinol, 153(1): 320-2.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2004-2008 Marijuana Research Today. All Rights Reserved.