Sperm capacitation and transcripts levels are altered by in vitro THC exposure
Abstract Background Delta-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 hi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-02-01
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| Series: | BMC Molecular and Cell Biology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12860-023-00468-3 |
| _version_ | 1797863248614129664 |
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| author | Vivien B. Truong Ola S. Davis Jade Gracey Michael S. Neal Jibran Y. Khokhar Laura A. Favetta |
| author_facet | Vivien B. Truong Ola S. Davis Jade Gracey Michael S. Neal Jibran Y. Khokhar Laura A. Favetta |
| author_sort | Vivien B. Truong |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Delta-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. Results Motility, 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. Conclusion Phytocannabinoid 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T22:32:31Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1f748eb905f24884a9e9b486ca49e96b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2661-8850 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T22:32:31Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Molecular and Cell Biology |
| spelling | doaj.art-1f748eb905f24884a9e9b486ca49e96b2023-03-22T12:40:09ZengBMCBMC Molecular and Cell Biology2661-88502023-02-0124111310.1186/s12860-023-00468-3Sperm capacitation and transcripts levels are altered by in vitro THC exposureVivien B. Truong0Ola S. Davis1Jade Gracey2Michael S. Neal3Jibran Y. Khokhar4Laura A. Favetta5Reproductive Health and Biotechnology Lab, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ontario Veterinary College, University of GuelphReproductive Health and Biotechnology Lab, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ontario Veterinary College, University of GuelphReproductive Health and Biotechnology Lab, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ontario Veterinary College, University of GuelphONE FertilityDepartment of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Western UniversityReproductive Health and Biotechnology Lab, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ontario Veterinary College, University of GuelphAbstract Background Delta-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. Results Motility, 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. Conclusion Phytocannabinoid 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.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12860-023-00468-3CannabisTHCSpermCapacitationTranscriptomeFertility |
| spellingShingle | Vivien B. Truong Ola S. Davis Jade Gracey Michael S. Neal Jibran Y. Khokhar Laura A. Favetta Sperm capacitation and transcripts levels are altered by in vitro THC exposure BMC Molecular and Cell Biology Cannabis THC Sperm Capacitation Transcriptome Fertility |
| title | Sperm capacitation and transcripts levels are altered by in vitro THC exposure |
| title_full | Sperm capacitation and transcripts levels are altered by in vitro THC exposure |
| title_fullStr | Sperm capacitation and transcripts levels are altered by in vitro THC exposure |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sperm capacitation and transcripts levels are altered by in vitro THC exposure |
| title_short | Sperm capacitation and transcripts levels are altered by in vitro THC exposure |
| title_sort | sperm capacitation and transcripts levels are altered by in vitro thc exposure |
| topic | Cannabis THC Sperm Capacitation Transcriptome Fertility |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12860-023-00468-3 |
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