AI Article Synopsis
- Trophoblast cells in the placenta facilitate communication between the fetus and the mother, and previous research has shown that endocannabinoids like anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol influence trophoblast behavior.
- The study examines how endocannabinoid levels relate to the expression of their receptors and enzymes during rat placental development, revealing that this system is actively expressed in different regions of the placenta.
- The findings suggest that the endocannabinoid system plays a significant role in normal placental function and could be a new target for understanding the impact of cannabis on pregnancy, particularly in the latter stages.
Article Abstract
Trophoblast cells that comprise the placenta play a crucial role in the complex cross-talk between fetus and maternal tissues. Although anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol, the best studied endocannabinoids, affect trophoblast attachment and outgrowth, the functional significance of the endocannabinoid system in the development of placenta has not been established. We investigated the correlation between endocannabinoid levels and the pattern of expression of the receptors and metabolic enzymes of the endocannabinoid system during rat placental development. Here, we showed that all the endocannabinoid machinery is dynamically expressed in the functionally distinct basal and labyrinth zones of the rat placenta. Indeed, endocannabinoid levels are shown to increase with the progression of pregnancy. Together, these data support a role for the endocannabinoid system in normal placental function and evidence for a potential novel cellular target for the deleterious action of cannabis-derived compounds during the second half of pregnancy.
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| http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.reprotox.2012.05.036 | DOI Listing |
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