Background
Marijuana (Cannabis sativa) is the illicit drug most used by pregnant women, and behavioral
and cognitive impairments have been documented in cannabis-exposed offspring. Despite
the extensive use of marijuana, very limited information exists as to the consequences
of prenatal cannabis exposure on the developing human brain.
Methods
We optimized an in situ hybridization histochemistry technique to visualize mRNA expression
in midgestation (weeks 18–22) human fetal specimens from mothers with and without
documented evidence of cannabis use during pregnancy. The cannabinoid receptor type
1 (CB1) and major dopamine receptor subtypes, D1 and D2, were examined in the striatum and mesocorticolimbic structures (amygdala and hippocampus).
Results
Adjusting for various covariates, we found a specific reduction, particularly in male
fetuses, of the D2 mRNA expression levels in the amygdala basal nucleus in association with maternal
marijuana use. The reduction was positively correlated with the amount of maternal
marijuana intake during pregnancy. No significant cannabis-related alterations were
detected in the hippocampus or caudal striatum for the D2, D1, and CB1 mRNA levels, although alcohol showed significant contribution to striatal D1/D2 expression.
Conclusions
These human fetal findings suggest that in utero cannabis exposure may impair distinct
mesocorticolimbic neural systems that regulate emotional behavior.
Key words
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
October 26,
2004
Received in revised form:
September 10,
2004
Received:
June 4,
2004
Identification
Copyright
© 2004 Society of Biological Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
