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Cannabis

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Educating Anesthesia Providers On The Physiological Effects And Anesthesia Implications Of Cannabis, Carmel Loud May 2024

Educating Anesthesia Providers On The Physiological Effects And Anesthesia Implications Of Cannabis, Carmel Loud

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

In the U.S., currently 37 states have legalized cannabis for medicinal use prescribed by qualified medical professionals (National Conference of State Legislatures [NCSL], 2022). In 2012, the legalization of recreational cannabis began; as of 2022, 19 states have legalized the recreational use of marijuana (NCSL, 2022). This project aimed to optimize care for patients using cannabis by increasing anesthesia provider knowledge about cannabis. The project's aim was accomplished through a thorough review of the current medical literature and implementation of education to anesthesia providers about the physiological effects and anesthesia implications of cannabis. Thirteen CRNAs took a pre- and post-quiz …


Individual Differences In Cannabis Use Disorder With Implications For Endocannabinoid Modulation In Therapeutics Development, Erin Martin Apr 2024

Individual Differences In Cannabis Use Disorder With Implications For Endocannabinoid Modulation In Therapeutics Development, Erin Martin

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

Cannabis use disorder (CUD) is increasingly prevalent in the United States, but there is no effective pharmacological means to treat it. The endocannabinoid (eCB) system has emerged as a candidate therapeutic target demonstrating some evidence of efficacy in treating CUD. However, clinical trials evaluating eCB-modulating therapeutics have historically undervalued individual differences that could contribute to variation in treatment outcome (e.g. sex, comorbid psychiatric illness). To address this gap in the literature, the present set of studies (a) compared plasma eCB tone in groups underrepresented in treatment trials for CUD (females, individuals with comorbid major depressive disorder; MDD/CUD) with males or …


Detailing The Effects Of Cannabidiol On Exosome Release In Ewing’S Sarcoma, Bennett Hasley Apr 2024

Detailing The Effects Of Cannabidiol On Exosome Release In Ewing’S Sarcoma, Bennett Hasley

Theses

Ewing’s sarcoma (ES) is a highly aggressive pediatric cancer found within bone that carries a low five-year survival rate within its patients. This is due, in part, to the cancer’s high malignancy properties as well as the development of resistance to the chemotherapies used to combat this cancer. This project aims to determine if cannabidiol (CBD) has an effect on either exosome release or the protein, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) within ES cells. Exosomes are vesicles that can carry proteins and other signaling molecules which are released by the cell and allow for cell-to-cell communication. Within …


Neural Hyperactivity During Value-Based Decision-Making In People With Daily/Near Daily Cannabis Use, Miranda Ramirez Jan 2024

Neural Hyperactivity During Value-Based Decision-Making In People With Daily/Near Daily Cannabis Use, Miranda Ramirez

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Value-based decision-making involves the coordinated effort of multiple brain regions to guide future choices based on past experiences. These processes are disrupted in cannabis use disorder, where individuals continue to use cannabis despite negative consequences. Reinforcement learning (RL) paradigms can be used to capture changes in the value of available options and may inform how the brain is impacted by frequent cannabis use. This study combined fMRI with behavioral modeling of probabilistic choice task data to compare value-based choices between young adults reporting daily/near daily cannabis use (CAN) and controls (CTRL). Participants selected one of two options reinforced ($0.25) at …


A Phenomenological Inquiry Into Healthcare Professionals Who Are Experts In Cannabinoid Therapy And The Endocannabinoid System (Ecs), Courtney Collins Aug 2023

A Phenomenological Inquiry Into Healthcare Professionals Who Are Experts In Cannabinoid Therapy And The Endocannabinoid System (Ecs), Courtney Collins

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cannabis is a prevalent alternative treatment for many symptoms and conditions given its medicinal qualities and few side effects. As legalization for both medical and recreational purposes continue to develop quickly across the United States of America, there is serious discrepancy between legalization and clinical research. Clinical data is difficult since the U.S. federal government still classifies cannabis as a Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) Schedule I drug with no clearly established medical value. This lag in evidence-base data has affected cannabinoid therapy and endocannabinoid system education (ECS) for healthcare professionals. There are gaps in medical school and continuing medical education …


Medical Marijuana In Mississippi: A Journalistic View Of Physician Opinions And Patient Education, Michael Pitts May 2023

Medical Marijuana In Mississippi: A Journalistic View Of Physician Opinions And Patient Education, Michael Pitts

Honors Theses

Medical Marijuana in Mississippi: A Journalistic View of Physician Opinions and Patient Education is an in-depth investigative journalism project examining aspects of the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Program. Specific areas of interest were Mississippi physician opinions on the use medical marijuana and their views on the application of the state’s program as well as an examination into how patients are receiving education on medical marijuana. This project involved interviews of healthcare providers, dispensary staff, and patients, in addition to background research that was used to formulate interview questions, determine areas of interest and add necessary context. This project occurred during the …


Medical Cannabis In Mississippi: Practitioner Education And Continuing Research, Andrea Cleveland May 2023

Medical Cannabis In Mississippi: Practitioner Education And Continuing Research, Andrea Cleveland

Honors Theses

Use of medical cannabis in Mississippi was legalized in February 2022 following many years of cannabis research at the University of Mississippi. Issues immediately became apparent, beginning with the lack of education about medical cannabis among providers. A 2017 study showed that the majority of physicians are not exposed to information about medical cannabis despite its legalization in 37 states. Another issue with Mississippi’s medical cannabis program is the cost of the product itself. The most effective way to decrease spending on medication is for patients to have access to medication that is guaranteed to work. Further research on cannabis …


Effects Of Cannabichromene On Pain And Neuroinflammation In Hiv-1 Tat Transgenic Mice, Sydney Wheeler Apr 2023

Effects Of Cannabichromene On Pain And Neuroinflammation In Hiv-1 Tat Transgenic Mice, Sydney Wheeler

Honors Theses

HIV-1 TransActivator of Transcription (Tat) is a vital regulatory protein involved in HIV replication and implicated in development of HIV-associated pain and neurocognitive deficits. Tat is thought to contribute to these pathologies through proinflammatory pathways. Developing mechanisms to curb Tat-mediated inflammation is a key step in improving the quality of life of those living with HIV. Both recreational and medicinal cannabis use is prevalent among many people living with HIV; given this prevalence and the perceived anti-inflammatory benefits of cannabis use, it is important to investigate how chemical constituents of cannabis may impact HIV. In the present study, the effects …


Benefits Of Medical Thc For Neurological Disorders In The U.S., Andrew Lester, Alexandria Gartin Jan 2023

Benefits Of Medical Thc For Neurological Disorders In The U.S., Andrew Lester, Alexandria Gartin

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Introduction: The introduction of THC into the medical field has allowed medical professionals to offer a new treatment option to aid in their patients treatment plan by decreasing their symptoms of side effects of other medications used for their conditions.

Methodology: This study utilized a literature review. Five databases were used to collect 116 total sources. These sources were reviewed and reduced to 33 sources that were used in the written research. Of these, 16 sources were used in the results section.

Purpose of the Study: The purpose of this research was to analyze the prescription use of …


Impact Of Telehealth Versus Traditional Visits On Pain Management Patients Utilizing Medical Cannabis During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Todd Pankratz Jan 2023

Impact Of Telehealth Versus Traditional Visits On Pain Management Patients Utilizing Medical Cannabis During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Todd Pankratz

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractAlternatives to traditional office visits have become a necessity with the recent COVID-19 outbreak, resulting in an unmatched surge in telehealth adoption. The present study was an investigation of the impact of telehealth versus traditional office visits in medical cannabis clinics treating patients for chronic pain. With 50,000,000 American adults experiencing pain and over 750,000 overdoses attributed to opioid usage, collecting research-driven evidence to increase the availability of safe, effective, and nonopioid treatment options will create positive social change. The Donabedian model was applied to measure the quality of care, focusing on structure (cannabis clinics), process (telehealth vs. traditional office …


Marijuana Cultivation Laws And Admissions For Cannabis Use Disorder In Us Substance Abuse Treatment Facilities, Nada Al-Rubaiee Jan 2023

Marijuana Cultivation Laws And Admissions For Cannabis Use Disorder In Us Substance Abuse Treatment Facilities, Nada Al-Rubaiee

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

With approximately 4.4 million Americans addicted to cannabis, it is considered a dominant non-medical drug that is common in the US. The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible contribution of the state laws that allow the cultivation of marijuana to Marijuana Medical (MM) program cardholders on cannabis addiction. This study was conducted to address the issue of the increase in demand for cannabis-related admissions that contribute to an upsurge in the unmet treatment needs. The study is founded on the Ecological Models proposed by Urie. The key research question explored the association between state laws that allow …


Closing The Knowledge Gap For Advanced Practice Nurses On Medical Cannabis, Regina Bernice Askew-Gibbs Jan 2023

Closing The Knowledge Gap For Advanced Practice Nurses On Medical Cannabis, Regina Bernice Askew-Gibbs

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractSince cannabis, also called marijuana, has been decriminalized or legalized as a prescription for medical purposes, more patients are using cannabis recreationally for medical purposes or as a holistic therapeutic approach in contrast to Western medicine. With increased use among patients, it has become important for the advanced practice nurse (APN) to have a basic knowledge of the therapeutic benefits of marijuana. The goal of this DNP project was to supply APNs with education on marijuana and cannabis to prevent poor patient assessment and education. Pre-and posttest data from 6 participants who work at a medical, ambulatory clinical site, were …


Impact Of Telehealth Versus Traditional Visits On Pain Management Patients Utilizing Medical Cannabis During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Todd Pankratz Jan 2023

Impact Of Telehealth Versus Traditional Visits On Pain Management Patients Utilizing Medical Cannabis During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Todd Pankratz

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractAlternatives to traditional office visits have become a necessity with the recent COVID-19 outbreak, resulting in an unmatched surge in telehealth adoption. The present study was an investigation of the impact of telehealth versus traditional office visits in medical cannabis clinics treating patients for chronic pain. With 50,000,000 American adults experiencing pain and over 750,000 overdoses attributed to opioid usage, collecting research-driven evidence to increase the availability of safe, effective, and nonopioid treatment options will create positive social change. The Donabedian model was applied to measure the quality of care, focusing on structure (cannabis clinics), process (telehealth vs. traditional office …


Marijuana Cultivation Laws And Admissions For Cannabis Use Disorder In Us Substance Abuse Treatment Facilities, Nada Al-Rubaiee Jan 2023

Marijuana Cultivation Laws And Admissions For Cannabis Use Disorder In Us Substance Abuse Treatment Facilities, Nada Al-Rubaiee

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

With approximately 4.4 million Americans addicted to cannabis, it is considered a dominant non-medical drug that is common in the US. The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible contribution of the state laws that allow the cultivation of marijuana to Marijuana Medical (MM) program cardholders on cannabis addiction. This study was conducted to address the issue of the increase in demand for cannabis-related admissions that contribute to an upsurge in the unmet treatment needs. The study is founded on the Ecological Models proposed by Urie. The key research question explored the association between state laws that allow …


Closing The Knowledge Gap For Advanced Practice Nurses On Medical Cannabis, Regina Bernice Askew-Gibbs Jan 2023

Closing The Knowledge Gap For Advanced Practice Nurses On Medical Cannabis, Regina Bernice Askew-Gibbs

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractSince cannabis, also called marijuana, has been decriminalized or legalized as a prescription for medical purposes, more patients are using cannabis recreationally for medical purposes or as a holistic therapeutic approach in contrast to Western medicine. With increased use among patients, it has become important for the advanced practice nurse (APN) to have a basic knowledge of the therapeutic benefits of marijuana. The goal of this DNP project was to supply APNs with education on marijuana and cannabis to prevent poor patient assessment and education. Pre-and posttest data from 6 participants who work at a medical, ambulatory clinical site, were …


Cannabis Cues And Effects On Social Anxiety, Erica Steinberg Jan 2023

Cannabis Cues And Effects On Social Anxiety, Erica Steinberg

All Master's Theses

Prior research has shown that individuals experiencing social anxiety may use cannabis for self-medication; therefore, the current study evaluated if viewing cannabis cues would reduce feelings of social anxiety. Central Washington University undergraduates enrolled in psychology courses (n = 124; 66.7% female; Mage = 19.8, SDage = 4.7) were shown cannabis cues after viewing expressive facial images that prior research has shown induces feelings of social anxiety. Contrary to prior research, the current study found that emotional faces did not significantly affect state-trait anxiety as measured by the 6-item State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-6) but that trait social …


Evaluating The Effects Of Cannabis Use On Fertility And Artificial Reproductive Technology, Iridiana Hermenegildo Dec 2022

Evaluating The Effects Of Cannabis Use On Fertility And Artificial Reproductive Technology, Iridiana Hermenegildo

Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc)

Background: Cannabis is widely used among males and females of reproductive age. A growing body of research suggests the endocannabinoid system is negatively impacted by the use of cannabis affecting many factors required for fertility. Objective: This article aims to evaluate existing literature on trends seen in patients undergoing artificial reproductive therapy (ART) and the effects cannabis has on fertility outcomes, including conception. Methods: This is a systematic review searching PubMed, MEDLINE, and Academic Search Premier databases through August 2022 using keywords derived from three defined concepts. Articles were then evaluated for relevance and included if meeting criteria. Results: …


Cannabis Sleep Aid Use In Daily College Life: An Intensive Longitudinal Assessment Approach, Patricia A. Goodhines Jul 2022

Cannabis Sleep Aid Use In Daily College Life: An Intensive Longitudinal Assessment Approach, Patricia A. Goodhines

Dissertations - ALL

Objective: Emerging evidence suggests that college cannabis sleep aid use may increase vulnerability to diurnal impairment, despite proximal sleep-related benefits. In contrast, relatively little is known about proximal precipitants of cannabis sleep aid use in daily college life. The identification of modifiable, situational intervention points preceding cannabis sleep aid use in daily college life is critical to accelerate the development of college harm reduction efforts. This 14-night mixed methods study tested temporal associations of THC-based cannabis sleep aid use with cognitive arousal-based precipitants (consistent with cognitive theory of insomnia) and sleep outcomes.

Method: Daily diary (pre-sleep and waking) and actigraphy …


Efficacy Of Δ-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol For Hiv-Related Neuropathic Pain, Kaia Horne May 2022

Efficacy Of Δ-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol For Hiv-Related Neuropathic Pain, Kaia Horne

Honors Theses

Despite the availability and success of antiretroviral therapeutics, ~30% of patients living with HIV experience neuropathic pain that is often intractable. The mechanisms are not known, but there is evidence to support a role for the HIV virotoxins, Tat and/or gp120, which can damage or degenerate neurons and peripheral nerves. One mechanism by which Tat and gp120 promote nerve damage involves the stimulation of proinflammatory cytokine production from immune cells which can damage or kill bystander cells. Notably, compounds found in Cannabis exert anti-inflammatory effects and many studies report HIV patients to consume more marijuana than seronegative individuals. When people …


The Impact Of Cannabis And Alcohol Use On The Management Of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus, Joshua Eric Sellner Apr 2022

The Impact Of Cannabis And Alcohol Use On The Management Of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus, Joshua Eric Sellner

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation sought to contribute to the evidence-base of diabetes management and acute complications associated with alcohol and cannabis use among individuals with Type 1 Diabetes (T1DM). Three interconnected studies were initiated to complete this goal. First, existing literature surrounding the potential consequences of cannabis consumption among individuals with T1DM were summarized within a systematic review. Study results were combined to provide a single measure of association through a meta-analysis. Second, identified associations were further investigated through a cross-sectional study using the SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth data on alcohol and cannabis use on diabetes management and acute complications including …


Assessing The Accuracy And Deficits Of Popular Drug-Interaction Software Programs In Detecting Interactions Between Cannabis And Pharmaceutical Drugs, Nathan C. Ramsbacher Jan 2022

Assessing The Accuracy And Deficits Of Popular Drug-Interaction Software Programs In Detecting Interactions Between Cannabis And Pharmaceutical Drugs, Nathan C. Ramsbacher

Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts

- Purpose – The management of drug interactions in healthcare is a large concern for pharmacists and other healthcare professionals, especially for patients requiring large amounts of medications. Healthcare professionals and patients alike utilize drug-interaction software programs (DISPs) frequently to manage medications and make clinical decisions. There is a large discrepancy between DISPs in terms of detecting clinically significant drug interactions. Notably, cannabis does not flag as an interaction as reliably as pharmaceutical drugs on many DISPs. With rising cannabis use in the United States, patients deserve to make decisions on how to safely use cannabis with their prescription drugs …


Effects Of Prenatal Cannabis Exposure On Offspring Emotional Development And Stress Response, Alexandra Pritchett Sep 2021

Effects Of Prenatal Cannabis Exposure On Offspring Emotional Development And Stress Response, Alexandra Pritchett

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

While cannabis may be used by women during pregnancy, its effects on their offsprings’ developing stress response system are still largely unknown. The binding sites for the active chemicals in cannabis are operational at early time points in fetal development and are expressed in key limbic brain structures. The body’s natural endocannabinoid system serves as an important regulator of the stress response. Longitudinal studies have associated prenatal exposure with increased fearfulness and mood disturbances in offspring, but, despite the growing evidence of emotional dysfunction, there remains a critical gap in knowledge explaining how early prenatal exposure may lead to future …


A Comparative Study On Cannabidiol In Melanoma Migration And Invasion: Charlotte's Web Vs. Purified Cbd, 2020–2021, Ruby Thamert Jul 2021

A Comparative Study On Cannabidiol In Melanoma Migration And Invasion: Charlotte's Web Vs. Purified Cbd, 2020–2021, Ruby Thamert

Theses

Over the last decade, much attention has been focused on compounds from Cannabis sativa in treating a variety of diseases including cancer. This study examines the abilities of two different cannabidiol oils to decrease the migration and invasion of melanoma cells in vitro. Skin cancers are the most common cancers in the world. While malignant melanoma is the least common type of skin cancer, it is the deadliest. Patients diagnosed with stage IV disease have only a 15-20% five-year survival rate even with aggressive multimodal treatment, demonstrating the need for additional therapeutic options. Because melanoma is often fatal when …


Cannabidiol: An Adjunctive Therapy To Risperidone For Autistic Children Experiencing Behavioral Outbursts, Cherie Dowell May 2021

Cannabidiol: An Adjunctive Therapy To Risperidone For Autistic Children Experiencing Behavioral Outbursts, Cherie Dowell

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

The purpose of this systemic literature review was to evaluate the safety, efficacy, and tolerability of medical cannabis in the treatment of aggression, irritability, and self-injurious behaviors in autistic children that are currently receiving risperidone. For this literature review, DynaMed, Cochrane, PubMed, ClinicalKey, and CINAHL were searched using various keywords and phrases. Studies that were included in this review were published after 2005, were peer-reviewed, and included systemic reviews, journal articles, clinical trials, randomized control trials, and meta-analyses. Studies that did not directly discuss autism and behavioral issues; autism treatment with risperidone, medical cannabis, or cannabidiol; that did not specifically …


Use Of A Zebrafish Model To Identify Anticonvulsant Properties Of Cannabinoid And Terpenoid Extracts And Mixtures, Courtney Murr Mar 2021

Use Of A Zebrafish Model To Identify Anticonvulsant Properties Of Cannabinoid And Terpenoid Extracts And Mixtures, Courtney Murr

LSU Master's Theses

Epilepsy is a complex group of neurological disorders affecting approximately 65 million people worldwide. Animal models reveal the activation of cannabinoid receptor 1 and cannabinoid receptor 2 reduces the severity of seizures associated with epilepsy. Trials of phytocannabinoids in mammals demonstrate their efficacy of reducing the severity of epileptic seizures. Numerous terpenoid compounds are present in Cannabis plants but most have yet to be clinically investigated. The goal of this research was to use zebrafish (Danio rerio) to identify the potential anticonvulsive properties of phytocannabinoid and terpenoid compounds. During acute cannabinoid exposures, 7-days-post-fertilization (7 dpf) zebrafish larvae were …


Characterizing The Anxiolytic Potential And Synergistic Efficacy Of Cannabidiol And D-Limonene, Nathashi Jayawardena Feb 2021

Characterizing The Anxiolytic Potential And Synergistic Efficacy Of Cannabidiol And D-Limonene, Nathashi Jayawardena

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Emerging evidence has elucidated the anxiolytic properties of the cannabis-derived phytochemicals cannabidiol (CBD) and d-limonene and the ‘Entourage Effect’ wherein, multiple components of cannabis synergize to produce stronger effects than their pure counterparts. However, no studies have yet explored this effect in combinations of CBD and limonene. Thus, the present thesis investigated the anxiolytic and synergistic potential of concurrently administered intra-nucleus accumbens shell CBD (1 ng/0.5 μl or 5 ng/0.5 μl) and inhaled limonene (200 μl or 2000 μl). Additionally, the role of the 5-HT1A receptor in mediating these effects was examined by co-application of the antagonist NAD299 and by …


Alcohol Consumption Among Cannabis Users In Vermont, Lara Cushman, Florencia Drumwright, Nawar Kareem, Madeleine Mank, Nicholas Milazzo Ms, Victoria Hart Jan 2021

Alcohol Consumption Among Cannabis Users In Vermont, Lara Cushman, Florencia Drumwright, Nawar Kareem, Madeleine Mank, Nicholas Milazzo Ms, Victoria Hart

Master of Public Health Culminating Projects

Objective: To examine the relationship between cannabis and alcohol consumption in Vermont; after the legalization of cannabis in 2018.

Methods: We used Vermont's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey; this data included only participants who had reported alcohol use in the past year (n = 3,781). We used multiple linear regression to compare frequency of cannabis use against days per month of alcohol consumption and binomial logistic to compare regression to the frequency in which cannabis was used against the odds of Heavy Alcohol Consumption (HAC).

Results: We found that low and moderate cannabis users had more days of …


Relationship Between Cannabis Use And Immediate, Delayed, And Working Memory Performance Among Older Adults, Madison H. Maynard Jan 2021

Relationship Between Cannabis Use And Immediate, Delayed, And Working Memory Performance Among Older Adults, Madison H. Maynard

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Cannabis is increasingly accessible in the United States for recreational and/or medical use. Additionally, the Baby Boomer birth cohort exhibits a greater prevalence of cannabis use than prior generations of older adults. Past research has most frequently addressed the potential cognitive effects of cannabis use in populations of adolescents and young adults. Some of these studies suggest that cannabis use is chronically associated with worse performance on tasks of verbal working memory and executive functioning, however, due to methodological variation and a wide variety of potential confounds including duration of abstinence and frequency of use, results are still inconclusive. Through …


Cannabis As A Prescription Opioid Substitute For Adults With Chronic Pain: A Systematic Literature Review, Lani Kranz Jan 2021

Cannabis As A Prescription Opioid Substitute For Adults With Chronic Pain: A Systematic Literature Review, Lani Kranz

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Objective: To determine whether the use of cannabis improves pain control and/or reduces the amounts of opioids needed to control pain in adults with chronic pain.

Methods: A systematic literature review of research conducted from the past five years. Five databases were searched, resulting in 14 peer-reviewed articles relevant to the objective.

Results: The majority of the literature reviewed demonstrated the use of cannabis by adults with chronic pain resulted in better pain control and/or fewer opioids required to control pain in this population. The two articles which contradicted these findings only evaluated illicit, not medical, cannabis use by individuals …


The Effects Of Maternal Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol And Cannabidiol Exposure On Fetal Heart Development In Mice, Gregory Robinson Dec 2020

The Effects Of Maternal Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol And Cannabidiol Exposure On Fetal Heart Development In Mice, Gregory Robinson

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Up to 22.6% of pregnant women consume cannabis during pregnancy despite the uncertainty of teratogenicity of the main ingredients in cannabis, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). This study tested the hypothesis that gestational THC and CBD exposure leads to heart abnormalities. Daily, oral THC exposure induced heart abnormalities in 68% of offspring with three main phenotypes including thickened semilunar valves, ventricular myocardial hypertrophy and hypoplastic coronary arteries in fetuses, and postnatal cardiac dysfunction. Altered gene expression of key cardiogenic regulators, increased proliferation, and reduced epicardial epithelial-to-mesenchymal-transition were demonstrated implicating potential mechanisms responsible for these abnormalities. Also, maternal CBD exposure resulted …