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The role of the endocannabinoid system in female reproductive tissues
- Source :
- Journal of Ovarian Research, Journal of Ovarian Research, Vol 12, Iss 1, Pp 1-10 (2019)
- Publication Year :
- 2019
- Publisher :
- BioMed Central, 2019.
-
Abstract
- There has been increasing interest in the role of endocannabinoids as critical modulators of the female reproductive processes. Endocannabinoids are natural ligands of cannabinoid, vanilloid, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors. Together with their receptors, enzymes and downstream signaling targets, they form the endocannabinoid system (ECS). While the ECS is known to modulate pain and neurodevelopment, it is also known to impact the female reproductive system where it affects folliculogenesis, oocyte maturation, and ovarian endocrine secretion. In addition, the ECS affects oviductal embryo transport, implantation, uterine decidualization and placentation. There is a complex interplay between the ECS and the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis, and an intricate crosstalk between the ECS and steroid hormone production and secretion. Exogenous cannabinoids, derived from plants such as Cannabis sativa, are also ligands for cannabinoid receptors. These have been shown to have clinical outcomes related to ECS dysregulation, including multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, along with adverse effects on female reproduction. The aim of this review is to describe and discuss data from human, animal, and in vitro studies that support the important role of the endocannabinoid system in female reproductive tissues and processes. In particular, we will discuss some of the mechanisms by which endocannabinoid signaling can affect ovarian function in both physiological and pathophysiological states.
- Subjects :
- 0301 basic medicine
Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System
Cannabinoid receptor
Endocannabinoid system
medicine.medical_treatment
Review
Biology
lcsh:Gynecology and obstetrics
03 medical and health sciences
0302 clinical medicine
Ovarian cancer
Female reproduction
medicine
PCOS
Animals
Humans
Ovarian Diseases
Receptor
lcsh:RG1-991
Cannabis
Reproduction
Ovary
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Placentation
Decidualization
3. Good health
Cell biology
Crosstalk (biology)
Steroid hormone
030104 developmental biology
Oncology
030220 oncology & carcinogenesis
lipids (amino acids, peptides, and proteins)
Female
Cannabinoid
Endocannabinoids
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 17572215
- Volume :
- 12
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Journal of Ovarian Research
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....53b89621f758e315a5b35b6ec418a178