Cessation of chronic delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol use partially reverses impacts on male fertility and the sperm epigenome in rhesus macaques.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To determine whether discontinuation of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) use mitigates THC-associated changes in male reproductive health using a rhesus macaque model of daily THC edible consumption.

Design

Research animal study.

Setting

Research institute environment.

Patient(s)

Adult male rhesus macaques (age, 8-10 years; n = 6).

Intervention(s)

Chronic daily THC edible administration at medically and recreationally relevant contemporary doses followed by cessation of THC use.

Main outcome measure(s)

Testicular volume, serum male hormones, semen parameters, sperm deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) fragmentation, seminal fluid proteomics, and whole genome bisulfite sequencing of sperm DNA.

Result(s)

Chronic THC use resulted in signifi

SUBMITTER: Hedges JC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10293074 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature