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Smoking marijuana complicates the course of future pregnancies
Last reviewed: 01.07.2025
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A new study by scientists shows that cannabinoid compounds found in marijuana and produced in the human body can trigger genetic mutations, cause biological disturbances in the formation of the placenta during pregnancy, and provoke preeclampsia, a severe form of late toxicosis in expectant mothers. In this condition, pregnant women experience high blood pressure, and the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the fetus is limited. In addition, preeclampsia affects the liver, kidneys, and brain of the mother.
The results of the study by scientists indicate that abnormal biological signals produced by endocannabinoids, which are endogenous lipid molecules produced by the body, disrupt the movement of early embryonic cells that are important for a healthy pregnancy. In particular, these are trophoblast cells, which form the placenta. Abnormal placental function is commonly known as preeclampsia, a medical condition of unknown origin that is dangerous for both mother and baby.
The scientists conducted an experiment on mice. They analyzed rodent embryos whose cells were mutated under the influence of endocannabinoid signals. They found that both silencing and increasing the strength of endocannabinoid signals negatively affected the vital activity of trophoblast stem cells.
“Our findings suggest that cannabinoids have a negative impact on embryonic development,” said lead researcher Professor Sudhansu Dey. “Given that endocannabinoid signalling plays a key role in the central nervous system, it would be interesting to study the damaged embryonic cell at the stage of brain development.”
In the current study, the researchers performed DNA microarray analysis of embryos with abnormal endocannabinoid signaling to determine the expression levels of genes important for healthy embryonic development.
The expression of numerous genes important for cell movement and normal embryo development was lower than in the control group.
The authors of the study believe that the data obtained could help in further studies of the causes of preeclampsia.
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